Dusk.

The Bell and Drum Officer stood atop the gate tower of Chongli Pass, holding a vermillion pen in one hand and the Day and Night Book in the other, his eyes fixed intently on the hourglass beside him.

A sliver of orange sunset streamed through the intricately carved window, illuminating half of his face from the nose to the cheek, leaving one side bright and the other in shadow.

As the last drop of water fell in the hourglass, he circled "7 p.m." in the Day and Night Book with the vermillion pen, and a bare-chested soldier began beating the drumsticks.

The evening drum sounded its first beat, with seven hundred and ninety-nine more to follow, not one more, not one less.

Outside Chongli Pass's Peace Gate, the soldiers who had been building the city walls and watchtowers began to trickle into the walled city, their faces dusty and their expressions weary.

Just then, the sound of hooves came from behind them.

The soldiers turned to see Hong Zuer leading the charge down the official road, and their spirits lifted instantly: "Mr. Hong has returned!"

But Hong Zuer made no reply, nor did Ah Sheng, who usually responded to each and every word, as they pursed their lips silently on horseback.

The soldiers instinctively made way, watching as Hong Zuer, Gao Yuan, and others sped past, the fierce wind whipping their garments against their bodies.

Passing through the Peace Gate, even before the warhorses had fully stopped, Hong Zuer dismounted and ran southward: "Bai Zi, you summon our people; Gao Yuan, gather the Longevity Army; I'll try to persuade Zhou Rang of the Five Armies Camp; Ah Sheng, find Wu Yihang of the Divine Machine Camp. The Peace Gate waits for no one; you must return here before the evening drum ends, or nobody will get out today."

As he spoke, Hong Zuer looked up to see the General of Chongli Pass, Zhang Lanjin, clad in Golden Armor, standing amidst the drumbeats, silently observing them.

He gave neither support nor obstruction.

Disappointed, Hong Zuer lowered his head, knowing that even General Zhang Lanjin could not freely mobilize troops outside Chongli Pass without official military orders.

Moreover, with the steady nature of this general, he would definitely not be involved in intercepting the Jing Dynasty envoy.

Hong Zuer signaled to the others with his eyes, each heading in different directions, slipping into the alleyways between brick buildings.

At this moment, Qi Zhenzhuo, who had been stationed within Chongli Pass, noticed their hurried expressions and immediately ran back to the Yulin Army quarters: "Governor!"

In the yard of the military quarters, Li Xuan was sitting on the stone steps, using a gray cloth dipped in palm oil to wipe his personal sword "Feibai."

The others were shirtless, watching Duobao and Zhou Li wrestle.

Hearing the commotion, Li Xuan looked up at Qi Zhenzhuo: "Have you gathered any news?"

The assembled Yulin Army turned to Qi Zhenzhuo, who whispered, "The Night Patrol of the Longevity Army has returned, bringing along Hong Zuer from Chongli Pass. They seem to be in a hurry, wanting to gather all the Night Patrol before the gate closes to leave Chongli Pass... I suspect it has something to do with my master."

Duobao asked curiously: "What do you mean?"

Qi Zhenzhuo paused in thought for a moment: "Since we arrived at Chongli Pass, everyone has been cold and hostile toward us, as if we're treasonous villains—they don't want peace talks between the two dynasties. I previously heard that Hong Zuer and my master went out to scout for enemy activity, but now only he has returned, my master hasn't... Even though my master has been demoted to a Night Patrol, with his skills, it's no coincidence that he was sent as a Night Patrol at this juncture. I suspect he is the new Inspector General of the Imperial Camp, escorting the Jing Dynasty envoy back, and these Night Patrol intend to intercept him."

Chen Ji received a secret order, so even the Yulin Army was unaware of his identity, only knowing they were to await the Inspector General at Chongli Pass.

At this moment, Li Xuan stood up and sheathed Feibai, soberly saying: "You've improved, prepare the horses!"

...

...

On the three-hundredth evening drumbeat, Zhang Baishi, leading sixteen Chongli Pass Night Patrol, arrived at the Peace Gate with their horses. Some of them were tying waistbands, others wearing straw sandals askew, still others wearing their Six Harmonies Hats crookedly. Though disheveled, they arrived the fastest.

On the five-hundred-seventeenth evening drumbeat, Gao Yuan led twenty-one Longevity Army Night Patrol riding in. Each was equipped with a ninety-catties hard bow wrapped in a red string, causing the Chongli Pass Night Patrol to look on enviously.

Beside Zhang Baishi, a Night Patrol shouted: "Huang Ayue, having such a good bow is wasted on you, why not lend it to me."

The delicate-looking Huang Ayue gave him a sidelong glance: "With your archery skills, you're two Zhang Baishi short compared to me, scram."

On the six-hundred-ninetieth evening drumbeat, over twenty Divine Machine Camp Night Patrol arrived. They didn't converse with the other Night Patrol, maintaining an arrogant demeanor.

Wu Yihang, seated upright on his warhorse, asked coldly, "Who are we still waiting for?"

Gao Yuan eyed him coldly: "Hong Zuer and the Five Armies Camp haven't returned yet."

Wu Yihang asked those beside him: "How many drumbeats?"

The Divine Machine Camp Night Patrol replied: "Seven hundred and thirty-eight beats."

"The Peace Gate is closing," Wu Yihang spurred his horse out of the city: "We're not waiting, the Five Armies Camp won't come, I'll go first."

Gao Yuan said seriously: "Now is not the time to act rashly; a Seeking Dao Realm female assassin has arrived in Da Ma Mountain."

Without turning his head, Wu Yihang rode into the sunset outside the city: "I've seen Seeking Dao Realm before, even if she's Seeking Dao Realm, after cutting down seven or eight people, her blade will still dull, and she'll eventually run out of strength. Staying locked inside the city tonight and waiting till tomorrow, I won't get any sleep."

Gao Yuan ignored Divine Machine Camp Night Patrol, turning instead in the direction Hong Zuer disappeared.

Just then, the sound of hooves approached quickly, and Li Xuan, clad in silver armor and donning a White Feather Helmet, led two hundred Yulin Army past the Night Patrol, galloping toward the outside of Chongli Pass without a word.

Gao Yuan's expression changed.

Before he could speak, the seven-hundred-eightieth drumbeat sounded, and the winch on the gate tower began to turn slowly. Seven or eight soldiers pushed the winch, gradually closing the Peace Gate.

Gao Yuan furrowed his brows: "It's too late."

The drumbeats sped up.

Inside the gate tower, the Bell and Drum Officer, holding the Day and Night Book with one hand, looked worriedly out the window, watching the Yulin Army trailing behind the Divine Machine Camp Night Patrol exit through the Peace Gate and into the walled city.

Looking to the other side, Hong Zuer was still nowhere to be seen.

The drum-beating soldier turned to him, seemingly seeking his advice: "Should we slow down the beat?"

The Bell and Drum Officer's expression was stern: "Those who do not hit the drum according to the hourglass will be punished with twenty strokes; those who hinder the drumming will also be punished with twenty strokes. Military law knows no mercy!"

However, just at that moment, the clatter of armor came from outside.

Only to see General Zhang Lanjin, in Golden Armor, come beside the soldier, gripping their wrist. The drumbeat abruptly stopped, and the soldiers driving the winch for the gate slowly ceased their actions.

The Bell and Drum Officer was taken aback: "General?"

Zhang Lanjin said nothing, just turned back to look inside the pass, and saw Hong Zuer leading the charge, followed by twelve Night Patrol members of the Five Armies Camp.

Hong Zuer looked up into the distance and saw Zhang Lanjin in the window of the gate tower.

He clasped his fists to signal, and with the rallying cry, took dozens of Night Patrol members whizzing away.

Once the Night Patrol members all rushed out of Chongli Pass, Zhang Lanjin released the soldier's wrist, took off his own armor, and said nonchalantly: "A breach of law, forty lashes."

The drum sounded again, finishing the last twenty beats.

The sound of the winch moving, the ten-thousand-pound gate of Peace Gate slammed to the ground.

...

...

At Yaozi Gou, the last rays of sunset fell behind the mountain.

Xiao Man carried Princess Liyang while sprinting wildly, dense footsteps echoed behind them, and birds were startled by the invisible killing intent, taking flight and circling in the sky.

The Taotie carrying the little monk gradually dimmed, initially dark as ink, now so thin and transparent it seemed to shatter at a touch.

Xiao Man was drenched in sweat with anxiety; these Life-catcher Generals should have been led away, but instead, after a single encounter with Chen Ji, they discovered the clue and turned to pursue them.

The Life-catcher Generals spread out in a fan shape, slowly closing the distance between them.

Suddenly, an arrow shot from behind, Xiao Man shouted fiercely: "Little monk, duck down!"

The little monk lowered his body on the Taotie's back, which swerved suddenly, narrowly avoiding the arrow's path.

Princess Liyang hesitated on Xiao Man's back and said: "Your young master and that Second Miss Zhang won't just leave you and run away, right?"

Xiao Man was furious: "Nonsense, they're not that kind of people!"

Princess Liyang laughed: "Or perhaps something else has gone wrong, anyway, the three of us are going to die here."

Xiao Man replied impatiently: "If you stop talking, no one will take you for a mute."

Princess Liyang ignored her impatience and said instead: "Put me down, you escape yourselves. But tell your young master that I'm doing this to save you, trouble him, if my brother ever escapes to the Ning Dynasty, ask him to offer some protection."

Xiao Man replied even more impatiently: "Stop talking nonsense, does anyone have any food?"

The little monk stammered: "I have half a piece of cake in my arms..."

Xiao Man refused: "No, half a piece of cake won't work... Little monk, put your hand over here!"

She urged the Taotie closer, and the little monk raised his arm, confused.

In the midst of a wild sprint, Xiao Man suddenly bit down on the little monk's wrist, greedily sucking his blood.

Princess Liyang was astonished to see the blackness on the Taotie growing ever thicker, Xiao Man's breathing becoming more rhythmic, running more steadily.

The little monk felt a sharp pain but did not cry out, only stared blankly at Xiao Man's profile.

A few moments later, the little monk's face turned pale, his lips taking on a faint purple hue.

Xiao Man released her mouth, looked at the little monk in surprise: "Your blood is so fragrant! Usually, I need to eat hundreds of pounds of meat to replenish, sucking your blood a few times already does the trick... Come over and let me suck a few more times!"

The little monk guarded his wrist warily and said: "Benefactor, I cannot."

"Cheapstake!"

But at this moment, the Life-catcher Generals had already closed in from both sides, the Centurion took down his horn bow from his back, drew an arrow from the quiver, and pulled the bowstring to full tension.

The Centurion's horn bow was larger than others', weighing over a hundred pounds—a hard bow that ordinary people couldn't even pull the string.

He wore a Black Iron Ring on his right thumb, pulling the bowstring with the ring without hurting his fingers.

Princess Liyang looked back from Xiao Man's back, quickly warning: "That Centurion comes from Kujue Temple, spent ten years begging with a copper bowl, a perpetual ascetic, not touching money, but of infinite strength, can lie down and hold up an elephant with bare hands!"

Next moment, the Centurion released his thumb from the string, the bowstring resonated in the air with thunderous release.

The Iron Arrow came whistling, Xiao Man twisted her body to dodge, yet the arrow was so swift it pierced through her left shoulder.

Xiao Man groaned, instinctively releasing Princess Liyang with her left hand, only able to hold onto the Princess's thigh with her right hand, preventing her from falling to the ground.

The little monk, flustered, stretched out his arm and shouted loudly: "Suck a few more times!"

Xiao Man cursed in anger: "Save it, it won't heal the injury... wait."

As she spoke, she looked up to see ahead, a pair of black-clad men and women standing on the mountain, the woman sitting cross-legged, the man with hands hidden in sleeves, both smiling amiably and watching from above.

Jiao Tu.

Yun Yang.

Jiao Tu split her brow with her nails, closed her eyes.

A mass of black smoke squeezed out from the wound on her brow, revealing Jiao Tu's shadow cloaked in Black Armor, with a reverse-held Yanyue Great Blade.

Princess Liyang whispered: "Yang God Dao? Not yet forged the Yang God, only got the Yin God."

The Centurion knocked another arrow from afar, but Jiao Tu's Yin God leaped gracefully, traced through dozens of feet as if flying, landing before the group, cutting the Iron Arrow in two with a single stroke.

Jiao Tu's Yin God chuckled: "Miss Xiao Man, I didn't mean to wait until you were in trouble to help, it's just that we're stronger at night, don't complain to your young master."

Princess Liyang studied Jiao Tu: "Who are you?"

Jiao Tu laughed heartily: "Us? We are Mr. Chen's most loyal subordinates!"