At noon, the sun was blazing.

In the mountains and forests, Chen Ji and Zhang Xia carried horn bows and quivers on their waists, racing southward, one in front of the other. Zhang Xia occasionally turned her head to recognize directions, heading towards Willow Valley.

Chen Ji remained silent for a long time and finally asked from behind her, "Do you blame me for putting you in danger before?"

Zhang Xia turned her head to look at the western mountains, seemingly calibrating her position, yet still replied to Chen Ji, "How confident were you before that you could keep me alive?"

Chen Ji answered, "Seventy percent."

Zhang Xia walked on the mountain path, ducking under a blocking pine branch, nonchalantly saying, "Seventy percent isn't low. I understand your thoughts; it's between life and death that one's true nature is revealed... When I stormed the White Tiger Festival Hall, I was quite nervous inside, but I had to make myself look less scared to convince Jiang Xianzong. However, I think if I were to storm the White Tiger Festival Hall again now, it might be a lot better."

Chen Ji consoled her from behind, "You've never experienced such a formation alone before; it's normal to be anxious. No one is born strong."

"I know," Zhang Xia nodded, "In Luocheng City, when you leaped out of the city to appease the disaster victims, my father went to the granary to allocate grain but was stopped by the colonel, so he slit the colonel's throat with his blade. He looked fine on the surface, but when he returned home, my mother found out his hands had been shaking, shaking for several hours... In the storytellers' plays, they often say that some great figure remains calm in the face of a mountain collapse, and I used to think that was all true. But later, when I discovered that even someone like my father could get nervous, I realized the plays were exaggerated."

Chen Ji said softly, "Being able to pretend to stay calm is already quite impressive."

Zhang Xia laughed and said, "I used to think I was quite impressive, suppressing the students at the Imperial Academy till they couldn't lift their heads, and always rendering my opponents speechless in Debating Scripture, forcing the great scholars to turn and leave when they saw me. At that time, I was always smug, thinking I was the most skilled among women, and even if I got married, no one could control me. I was so arrogant back then that when people called me Yanzhihu, my nose would point to the sky."

Chen Ji showed a slight smile, remembering the day Zhang Xia stormed into the Medical Hall, laying out terms with him.

Zhang Xia continued, "But later, it was different. Hiding in the Iron Refining Workshop that night was the first time I felt so useless; I had remembered so many things in my head, but none of them were of use."

Chen Ji said nothing.

"And during the Debating Scripture at Lu Hun Manor, I thought I could be like Wuzhai, but I found I couldn't answer your questions," Zhang Xia said casually, "From that moment, I discarded everything I had learned and started learning to be a humble and useful person. I began secretly learning from you... Don't get me wrong; I just envied how much more useful you were at the same age as me."

Chen Ji shook his head, "I was also quite nervous at Dragon King Village."

Zhang Xia laughed, "I could obviously tell you were nervous; on normal days, you breathe two hundred and forty times every incense stick, but when you're nervous, it's two hundred and ninety times, completely different."

Chen Ji was stunned, not expecting Zhang Xia to have used her memory to such an extent. On normal days, he only needed to maintain a calm facade; who would have thought someone could remember his breathing frequency.

The two turned into a mountain hollow, filled with grotesque rocks. During the summer floods, this place would turn into a pond, but now it only held a shallow stream.

Zhang Xia jumped onto a rock and said, "Cross this hollow, climb over another mountain, and you'll reach Willow Valley. I wonder where Xiao Man and the others are... What I said earlier was just to let you know that I don't blame you for putting me in danger, not before and not in the future."

Zhang Xia suddenly stopped on a tall peculiar rock, turning back to look down at Chen Ji, "Moreover, I wish to become stronger, not for anyone, but for myself; I don't want to feel helpless anymore. I still owe you three lives, one at Dragon King Village, one at Guyuan, and one at Fragrant Mountain. Once I repay those three lives, I owe you nothing."

Chen Ji looked up at Zhang Xia standing on the rock, "The one at Fragrant Mountain doesn't count; those people initially came to kill me, and I dragged you all into it."

Zhang Xia smiled, "Fine, that one doesn't count. Once I repay those two lives, I'll owe nothing to anyone, and I can continue to live life freely, doing what I want."

Chen Ji curiously asked, "What do you want to do?"

Zhang Xia turned around to continue forward, "By then, you would have left the Ning Dynasty already, so it doesn't matter even if I tell you. By the way, why learn the bow first? It's not questioning you; I was just wondering. Maybe a bow or crossbow is useful outside Chongli Pass, but south of Chongli Pass, being skilled with a bow or crossbow is a serious crime. Without an official position, one cannot carry one around."

Chen Ji followed her, speaking casually along the way, "The spear is the king of a hundred weapons, the sword is the gentleman of a hundred weapons, the staff is the ancestor of a hundred weapons, and the saber is the commander of a hundred weapons. But no one ever said to banish them... because their threat is not like the bow. A drawn bow should be strong, with power that can penetrate through three armies; the bow is the best at killing."

As Chen Ji moved south, he acted out drawing the horn bow fully, "The bow of a Life-catcher General is sixty pounds; they sacrifice power for speed in shooting. You can use their bow for now, but once you reach the third or fourth levels of the Innate Realm, you'll need to switch to the hard bow passed down by the Yang family. That bow is hung on the jujube-red saddle; you can take it with you when you return."

Zhang Xia laughed, "At first, when you returned to the Imperial Capital from Changping, Yangyang went to ask for that ancestral horn bow, but got flustered and forgot to mention the bow, even pouring you wine on the side. Because of this, he often complained to my brother... Wait."

"Hmm?"

Zhang Xia squinted her eyes to study the space behind her, "The last time a Life-catcher General startled the birds in the forest was two incense sticks ago; we deliberately slowed down to wait for them, but it seems like they didn't follow us. It's bad; they've realized Princess Liyang isn't in this direction and have stopped chasing us!"

Chen Ji immediately sped through the hollow, "Head towards Chongli Pass, and stop them before they catch up to Xiao Man."

...

...

North of Chongli Pass, Lion Valley.

Hong Zuer was galloping along with Zhang Baishi and Ah Sheng. The ropes of the straw sandals on their feet had broken, so they simply discarded them and walked barefoot. Even when stepping on sharp stones, they didn't frown.

Hong Zuer had a long bloodstain on his back, but it was unclear who had wounded him.

While walking, suddenly the sound of horse hooves came from the front.

Hong Zuer raised his arm, clenched his fist, and the three of them hid behind trees in turn. Only Hong Zuer peeked out half of his face to observe the newcomers.

Once he made out who it was, he immediately stepped out from behind the pine tree and called out loudly, "Gao Yuan!"

Gao Yuan of the Night Patrol of the Longevity Army tightened his reins, looked around cautiously, and asked curiously, "Hong Zuer! What are you doing here? Where are Bai Zi and Ah Sheng?"

Hong Zuer looked behind Gao Yuan, where there were three more members of the Night Patrol of the Longevity Army, each with two horses.

The soldiers of the Longevity Army were much better supplied than those at Chongli Pass, always wearing leather boots and carrying spare horses when leaving the pass, and equipped with leather armor.

Hong Zuer approached and inquired, "Where are you headed?"

Gao Yuan replied warily, "That doesn't need to be reported to you, Hong Zuer."

Hong Zuer bluntly asked, "Are you going to scout the movements of the Jing Dynasty envoy?"

Gao Yuan's expression changed: "Don't talk nonsense; that's the Yulin Army's job. We're just going to scout the movements of the troops in Baidadan City."

Hong Zuer impatiently said, "Enough with the pretending. Everyone's been mingling around Chongli Pass for many years, and we know each other's little thoughts well. I just came back from Baidadan City."

Gao Yuan, sitting on his horse, showed a change in expression. He immediately leaned down and lowered his voice, "You also want to ambush the Jing Dynasty envoy?"

Hong Zuer gestured to Zhang Baishi and Ah Sheng in the woods, then walked up to Gao Yuan's horse: "The Jing Dynasty envoy has already set off for Chongli Pass."

Gao Yuan was stunned: "So soon? We haven't received any envoy from Jiang Xianzong."

Hong Zuer shook his head: "Things have changed. Mr. Wang's direct disciple, Chen Ji, received secret orders to serve as Inspector General of the Imperial Camp Flagbearer. He personally went to Baidadan City to retrieve the envoy. We took a shortcut back, and they were ambushed by the Life-catcher General. They should be behind us, but the Life-catcher General might not be able to stop them."

Gao Yuan's expression shifted several times: "How did you get those injuries?"

Hong Zuer explained, "We were pursued by another group while returning, different from those with the Life-catcher General. They seemed unfamiliar with this area and went the wrong way. Among them was a fierce female assassin who could injure people from several yards away with her Sword Gang. Fortunately, we three know the terrain well. Otherwise, we would have died there."

Gao Yuan raised an eyebrow: "Sword Gang? Liang Family's Saber Technique?"

Hong Zuer shook his head: "I've never seen the Liang Family's Saber Technique, so I don't know."

Gao Yuan asked in a low voice: "If these Jing Dynasty people also want to kill the envoy, would that not save us the trouble?"

Hong Zuer looked up at him: "Killing the envoy is one thing, but the Jing Dynasty invading our country's borders so blatantly is another. Gao Yuan, the Jing Dynasty envoy should be killed, and so should these Jing Dynasty villains."

Gao Yuan chuckled, "It's been years since I fought a good battle, and my hands are itching. Where are they? Let's go now; since they entered the Da Ma Mountains, they better not think of going back."

Hong Zuer shook his head: "That female assassin is at the Seeking Dao Realm. We can't handle her; you'd need your Longevity Army's households for that."

Gao Yuan pondered: "But Lord Yang of the households went to the Imperial Capital and hasn't returned yet."

The Night Patrol's reputation was well-known, built on risking their lives. Although they were adept at reconnaissance, assassination, and infiltration, they were only Innate Realm Executive Officers.

If they were to face a Grand Official of the Seeking Dao Realm, they would only be able to run for their lives.

Gao Yuan tossed the reins of his spare horse to Hong Zuer and headed towards Chongli Pass: "Mount up, let's return to Chongli Pass and call for the others. I still have over twenty Night Patrollers in Chongli Pass, and the Five Armies Camp, as well as the Divine Machine Camp, are all present. I don't believe that with so many people, we can't handle one Seeking Dao Realm."

Hong Zuer mounted the horse, hesitated for a moment, and said, "There's something I'll say upfront: we kill only the Jing Dynasty envoy, not our own people. That boy may be tasked with bringing the envoy back to the capital, but he's just following orders... He's not a bad person."

Gao Yuan replied impatiently, "Understood, the Night Patrol may be bloodthirsty but we've never killed our own people."