The night was still deep, the sky dark and murky.

In the black river water, Zhang Xia clung to the driftwood, floating with the current.

All she could hear was the sound of the waves. Zhang Xia looked down at Chen Ji's unconscious face, tightened her hold on his arm, fearing the river would sweep him away.

From Luocheng City to Guyuan, from Guyuan to the Imperial Capital, and then from the Imperial Capital to Chongli Pass, Chen Ji hadn't had a break for too long.

For some reason, she felt that injury was a rare form of rest for Chen Ji. Only at this moment could he stop, instead of being carried forward by the tumultuous wind.

Now the river channel grew narrower, the water racing through the mountains, sometimes deep, sometimes shallow.

Zhang Xia's hands were preoccupied, yet the undercurrent of the Zhengou River pulled her down, a single piece of driftwood unable to support them both, eventually submerging deep into the water.

Her entire body submerged in the river, she struggled to keep Chen Ji's head above the surface, ensuring the water didn't cover his mouth and nose.

The undercurrent was more turbulent than she had imagined, swirling and turning, threatening unknowingly to carry them elsewhere. Even an Innate Official would have to use all their strength to break through it.

In the river, Zhang Xia held her breath, continuing to hold Chen Ji, until after several dozens of breaths she finally pushed the driftwood to break through the surface to gasp for air.

But as she looked up, she saw a number of rocks blocking the narrow riverway ahead, leaving no time to evade.

She abruptly turned, holding Chen Ji tightly to her chest as her own back crashed into the rocks.

The violent impact caused a metallic taste of blood to rise in her throat, and her hand reflexively loosened, letting Chen Ji follow the water past the rocks, drifting downstream alone.

Ignoring the sharp pain in her chest, Zhang Xia forsook the driftwood, desperately swimming towards Chen Ji.

Ahead was a broad waterfall, and just before plunging down she managed to grasp Chen Ji's belt, pulling him back into her embrace as they both tumbled into the deep pool below the waterfall.

The two of them vanished from the surface of the river.

No one knew how much time passed before Zhang Xia stepped onto the riverbed pebbles, carrying Chen Ji on her back as she climbed step by step to the pond's edge.

She laid Chen Ji on the grass, hesitated for two breaths, then finally removed his outer clothing to reveal his inner garment, tearing it away to expose the wounds on Chen Ji's body.

She saw that the cut on his arm from the Sword Gang had stopped bleeding, but the wound extending from his shoulder blade to his waist was shocking.

The wound was deep. Jiang Liuxian had been merciless, each strike intending to kill.

It was then that Zhang Xia saw three stripes between Chen Ji's ribs... it was her first time seeing these markings.

A birthmark? It didn't seem so.

Something from the Sword Seed Path? There was no record of such in the texts.

Zhang Xia had a vague feeling that this might be Chen Ji's greatest secret and must not be seen by others.

She propped Chen Ji up, ripped one of her own hems, tearing the gray cloth into long strips to bind his wounds.

After completing everything, she looked at Chen Ji in front of her.

She hadn't seen Chen Ji so quiet and powerless before, but hearing his relatively steady breathing, she felt reassured.

Zhang Xia turned to look towards the north. They should be safe now, but they couldn't just go back like this.

Today, many would know the inheritor of the Sword Seed Path was heavily injured by Jiang Liuxian. If Chen Ji returned with injuries, he would surely be suspected.

If his identity as a Sword Seed Path inheritor was revealed, the Jing Dynasty would stop at nothing to kill Chen Ji.

The waterfall was marked on the map near Chongli Pass, so she knew they were just a few miles away from it.

Zhang Xia quietly said, "Let's go, I'll take you home."

She picked Chen Ji up on her back, walking step by step southwards, away from the shouts and the river's roar, the mountain forest remarkably tranquil.

Moonlight shone down, casting a lonely light on both of them in the Da Ma Mountains.

Zhang Xia avoided the official road, traveling through the mountains, walking for about another two hours before seeing the silhouette of Chongli Pass. Dozens of large braziers burned on Chongli Pass, with border army soldiers turning man-sized copper mirrors behind them, projecting a beam of light beyond the pass, sweeping through the forest, illuminating every shadowy corner within two miles.

She did not dare approach rashly.

Chongli Pass only opened at 5 to 7 AM, and getting to the city now would do no good, she had to wait another two hours.

Then she heard Xiao Man's voice: "Don't stop me, I'm going back to find Young Master and Sister Axia. You two just wait here at Chongli Pass for the gate to open, there won't be any danger."

The little monk hurriedly advised, "Benefactor Xiao Man, the mountains are really dangerous right now, don't go making trouble."

Xiao Man protested, "The Young Master agreed to give me the Gufu Building outside Eastern Hua Gate, Yujing Garden in the Eight Great Hutongs, Chen's Grain and Oil Store, the silk shop outside the Bell and Drum Tower, and three hundred and twenty mu of fertile land in Changping. If something happens to him here, won't it all go to the Chen family?"

Zhang Xia called out, "Xiao Man!"

Xiao Man exclaimed from beyond the mountain corner, "Am I hearing things? I thought I heard Sister Axia calling for me, could it be her spirit coming to find us?"

Princess Liyang said helplessly, "Lord Xiao Man, we heard it too."

Xiao Man hastily came around the mountain corner to Zhang Xia's side, seeing her wet hair, weary face, and Chen Ji unconscious on her back, anxiously asking, "What happened to you two? Who hurt the Young Master like this?"

Zhang Xia glanced at Princess Liyang: "It's nothing, we fell from the mountain."

Princess Liyang smiled and said: "Second Miss Zhang, falling from a mountain wouldn't cause such injuries."

Zhang Xia said expressionlessly: "A smart person would play dumb at this moment."

Princess Liyang shook her head: "A smart person should be honest at this time. I don't want to be silenced. Within two hundred miles, there are only two people who can injure Chen Ji like this. One is Yuan Heng Lizhen, and the other is Jiang Liuxian, Lu Jin's follower. But if it's these two who injured Chen Ji, there's no need for Second Miss Zhang to hide it, unless there's a big secret on Chen Ji."

Zhang Xia was moved to kill.

What happened to Chen Ji couldn't be hidden from Princess Liyang, killing her was the best option.

But Chen Ji needed Princess Liyang alive to return to the Imperial Capital; if she was killed, all of Chen Ji's previous efforts would be in vain.

Yet Princess Liyang continued to smile and said: "People with big secrets have big skills. I still need to rely on all of you, so the more secrets you have, the better... Instead of killing me, you could keep me alive. In case one day you need to leave the Ning Dynasty, I could be a way out for you in the Jing Dynasty. Though I often use any means necessary, I always repay my debts and favors. I truly wish to become friends with all of you."

Zhang Xia ignored her and looked towards the little monk.

She didn't want to force the little monk, but the matter was too important to only listen to Princess Liyang.

The little monk hesitated for a moment, then nodded lightly: Princess Liyang did not lie.

Zhang Xia pondered for a long time, then looked at Princess Liyang: "Your life or death will be decided when Chen Ji wakes up."

Princess Liyang calmly clasped her hands and said: "I know Young Master Chen will make the right decision. Once my brother ascends the throne, you will all be the best friends of the Jing Dynasty."

Zhang Xia pondered for another moment: Right now, Chen Ji's flaws are obvious—damaged clothes, severe injuries, a pale complexion—all of which could be noticed by those with ill intentions.

She said to the little monk in a commanding tone: "Use your Official Gateway to heal Chen Ji. No matter what method you use, you must make sure no one can see any signs of injury on him."

The little monk struggled and said: "My realm is very low..."

Xiao Man twisted hard at his waist: "You've finally become a little useful, think carefully before you speak."

The little monk grimaced and changed his tune: "I will do my best."

Zhang Xia handed Chen Ji over to Xiao Man: "Wait here for me, I'll make a trip to Chongli Pass. Remember, don't mention Chen Ji's injury to anyone."

With that, Zhang Xia turned and headed to Chongli Pass.

Although Chen Ji hadn't woken up, it was okay; she would help him cover all the gaps before he did.

By the time Zhang Xia reached Chongli Pass, the gate was still down.

She stood quietly below the gate, waiting. When the morning bell tolled within the city, the creaking sound of the winch was heard, and several border army soldiers pushed the giant winch to lift the thousand-pound gate of Peace Gate.

She stood outside the city, pressing her thumb and index finger against her tongue, and blew a loud whistle.

The next moment, the sound of heavy horse hooves echoed within Chongli Pass.

The border army soldiers waiting to exit Peace Gate turned back, only to see a mighty chestnut horse galloping from the south. Its breath was white like arrows, and its hooves thundered on the stone slabs.

The border army soldiers hastily cleared a path, allowing the chestnut horse to pass through the just-opened gap of Peace Gate.

As Zaozao passed by Zhang Xia, she jumped and landed on the horse's back, leaning down to stroke Zaozao's neck and softly said: "Good Zaozao."

Zaozao snorted in response.

Zhang Xia fumbled around the saddlebag, feeling relieved to find Chen Ji's clean clothes inside.

When she returned to the mountain hollow, Chen Ji was still unconscious.

The little monk was kneeling beside Chen Ji, reciting Ksitigarbha's Vows over and over, his eyes occasionally glancing at Xiao Man, his forehead drenched with sweat.

Zhang Xia examined Chen Ji, noticing the fine scars on his arm had already scabbed over and were shedding, disappearing without a trace as the little monk continued chanting.

However, the wounds on Chen Ji's shoulder and back were too severe to be healed by a few chants of sutra.

She threw the clothes from the backpack to the little monk: "Help Chen Ji change into these."

The little monk clumsily caught them, and once Zhang Xia led Xiao Man and Princess Liyang away, he awkwardly helped Chen Ji change clothes.

But as soon as he lifted Chen Ji's garment, his wrist was seized by Chen Ji.

The little monk looked at Chen Ji's face with surprise, just to see Chen Ji looking at him tiredly: "I'll do it myself."

In the forest, Zhang Xia heard Chen Ji's voice and couldn't help but turn to look. Halfway through, she stopped, pulling back Xiao Man's head that was about to peek out.

Chen Ji struggled to stand up, the movement causing his wounds to tear open, sending a shiver of pain through him and drawing air sharply into his lungs. Inside him, the seven hundred and fourteen internal fires flickered like candle flames in the wind, threatening to extinguish at any moment.

Should he use the markings?

Chen Ji considered it for a long time and decided to save it for now.

It was his greatest trump card, and it wasn't yet time to use it without necessity.