Chang Dong smiled and said, "What else can you do? If you're making a threat, could you at least be clear and direct? Just scare me a bit so I know the consequences—otherwise, I don't know what to be afraid of." Long Zhi murmured, "The tone of your words, Chang Dong—how clearly you're leaning toward Ye Liuxi—seems like you've switched sides." "Think about yourself. You were young and promising, about to get married, everything going smoothly—how many people would envy that kind of life? If it hadn't been for that incident with the Bogu yao's unexpected turn of events, your life now must have been sweet as honey, right? Maybe even your wife, Kong Yang, has already given birth to a child for you." "But now, everything has vanished overnight. I haven't been to the northern frontier these past two years, so I haven't been able to support you—yet I can already imagine how hard things must have been. As a highly paid guide, you've lost your entire team, and your fiancée is completely missing—neither seen nor heard from. How could your life possibly be any better? All this—what "Your purpose in entering the pass was not to uncover the truth behind Kong Yang and your teammates' deaths, was it? Now that the truth has come to light and the culprit has been identified, you could have gone after justice—yet instead, you remain so composed, arguing whether or not it should be blamed on Ye Liuxi." "I also suspected that the incident involving Kong Yang's team was merely a ripple effect—on its own, it might not have been enough to make you resolute. So you've risked your own life, adding your very existence as a stake—by helping me achieve this, you're not just saving my life, you're also securing your own. Isn't that worth it? Do you know that, while I can extend your life, I could just as easily end it now—without needing to cut or strike you with a sword or blade. A simple gesture would suffice." As she spoke, she raised her right hand and slowly placed it upon the heart-string floating in midair. Chang Dong stared at her hand. "Didn't you say it takes seven fingers to pluck the string?" Long Zhi didn't look up, only smiled slightly. "Have you never heard of the saying— I treat you with courtesy, and you're expected to be grateful. But every time you challenge me, I feel uneasy. Seven fingers plucking the strings revive life; three fingers sustain it; five fingers—well, that means enduring hardship. It means no matter how stubborn you are, you'll never escape my Five-Finger Mountain. She gripped the string and suddenly twisted it with force. Chang Dong's mind went blank. A fine, sharp iron thread suddenly snapped through his body—driving swiftly into his flesh, bones, marrow, and brain—causing intense pain so severe that it nearly unraveled his entire frame. He collapsed from his chair, landing on the floor, his eyes bloodshot, his body curling into a tight ball, unable to stop convulsing. Zhao Guanshou cleared his throat, his tone slightly displeased: "Long Zhi." As she grew older, she didn't like to see such scenes, and found it hard to sleep at night. Long Zhi withdrew her hand, rose from her chair, walked around the table, and knelt beside Chang Dong. Chang Dong gasped heavily, his mouth and nose filled with a thick blood taste; sweat seeped into his mouth, mingling with a salty, metallic flavor. Long Zhi produced a handkerchief, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "Chang Dong, listen carefully to what I'm saying. Inside and outside the pass have always been two entirely different worlds. Our scholars and the Fei Lin Guard live comfortably and have no intention of leaving—especially not of having outsiders disturb us. We welcome their things, but not their people." "Think about it: Ye Liuxi is determined to establish her collection of ancient, mystical artifacts. If she succeeds, how terrifying it would be! You and many others have grown up in a world without ghosts or spirits—many of you even have nightmares just from hearing a ghost story. Imagine what would happen if those very things were allowed to go out into the world and cause chaos." "Therefore, after much thought, I believe this solution causes the least damage—only if she passes away will everything be settled. I have no grudge against you. We met that night by chance, and it was a fortunate encounter. Isn't it better that we become friends?" You've helped me, and in return, every three years, I'll pluck the strings to keep you alive—everyone benefits, a win-win. "To achieve this mutual satisfaction, you'll have to give up only a leaf of Xi—she never truly belonged to you. There's never been any destined connection between you two. From the beginning to now, you've been orchestrated to meet, yet you were never meant to be together. It's perfectly acceptable if you part ways." Chang Dong finally found a little strength, trembling as he strained to steady himself and rise. Long Zhi stood up, clearing space for him, gazing down at him with the posture of someone observing a creature trapped in a pit, struggling desperately despite being powerless to resist. "Tomorrow morning, Mr. Zhao will send people to escort you to the border. Your journey will be smooth, free from any disruptions—Scorpion's eyes are now under my control. I won't allow them to interfere. They dare not come between you and your path." "The journey will take about three days. During that time, you'll have ample opportunity to think about what you should do." Every time Ye Liuxi enters or leaves Yumen, there's a period during which her body and spirit are temporarily separated—you'll kill her right there. That way, you won't delay your own departure, and Sha Zang's eyes will take care of her burial, meaning she'll effectively die within the pass. "But if you can't bring yourself to act, Chang Dong, I won't hesitate to take over the string. After all, you're no longer the only person outside the pass. Should you fall short, I still have alternatives. Gao Shen, Ding Liu, and that plump Tang all have strong potential. You decide for yourself. Three days from now, either the 'West of Yumen' plan succeeds—you kill Ye Liuxi, lead your friends out of the pass, and renew your own life—and I'll gift you countless gold pieces to ensure your comfort for the rest of your days. Or, the plan fails—you die for this woman, and your friends remain unable to pass until one of them manages to kill Ye Liuxi for me… Hmm, I wonder, among these three, who do you think will ultimately succeed?" Chang Dong grasped the chair leg, his veins standing out on his forearms, and after several attempts, finally pushed himself to his feet. Long Zhi thoughtfully remarked, "I think that fat Tang is quite good; Ding Liu would do too. As for Gao Shen—I'm not so sure. I actually prefer someone a bit more self-centered." Zhao Guanshou sighed, "I always feel he won't kill her. At Jin Yang's cave, he was willing to risk his life to save Ye Liuxi. A man who doesn't care about his own life—how could you possibly threaten him with your life?" Long Zhi's eyes sparkled with a smile. Not caring about his life? That's perfectly fine—she had already factored that in when making her plans. How could Long Zhi, who always played her cards carefully, fail to have a backup strategy? Born under the same auspices of the two orchids, flourishing side by side, with a fate where one's life must come at the other's expense—those who spoke of her destiny, citing the "green qi encircling the dragon," were all skeptical of her victory. Yet she would win decisively, erasing that green qi entirely, scattering it into the wind until it vanished completely from the world, leaving no trace. She wanted to see who would truly emerge triumphant, and which of the rare orchids would bloom atop Black Stone City. —When she returned to her quarters, Ye Liuxi and the others had not yet come back. To keep them occupied, Zhao Li Jiniao had already removed the illegal kitchen addition, fed the chickens, and swept the courtyard. When Chang Dong returned, he eagerly rushed toward him: "Oh, you all have gone—such a quiet place! You..." Suddenly, he noticed Chang Dong looked unwell. "Are you feeling unwell?" Chang Dong nodded and walked straight into the house, then paused and stepped back a few paces. Li Jiniao was puzzled, staring at him. Chang Dong said: "I'd like to ask you something. It's generally believed that the Long family leads the city in prestige. Yet the Li family's renowned shadow puppetry artistry—so outstanding—has still been overshadowed by the Long family. How is that possible?" Li Jin'ao said, "Well, let's just speak in terms of strength. The Long family has their own unique expertise—the so-called 'Dragon Soaring, Tiger Roaring,' which is quite impressive. It's a technique that works with what's available, effortlessly dismantling opposition. There's also a move called 'Seven Fingers Plucking the Strings,' which, they say, can even revive the dead. I'm telling you—well, I must admit, I was quite unaware of this secret until you, Miss Liuxi, kindly invited me into the grand museum. As a lower-ranking fangshi, I simply didn't know about such a closely guarded secret. But this time, while at the museum, I encountered an unusual creature known as the Silver Silkworm. I've come to believe that the strings being plucked by the Long family members are precisely the silk spun by these Silver Silkworms." Chang Dong asked, "Is this plucking technique something that every member of the Long family masters?" Li Jin'ao shook his head vigorously, "No, this is a truly universal skill—how could it be anything but common?" I’ll tell you, it’s a strictly inherited tradition—only the successors of the Long family are qualified to learn it. As far as I know now, only Long Shen and the Long family’s eldest daughter are still practicing it. But I hear the eldest daughter is seriously ill, possibly on the verge of death. I’m not sure whether Long Shen has found someone to take her place… Chen Dong chuckled. Long Zhi hadn’t deceived him—perhaps too confident, she no longer felt the need to play games in her words. He said, “I feel a bit unwell. I’ll go back to my room and rest. When Liu Xi and the others return, just let them know I need rest and don’t call me.” Li Jinao nodded eagerly, “Of course, of course, no problem.” Chen Dong turned to leave, then paused and turned back. Li Jinao was puzzled, “Is there anything else?” Chen Dong said, “Let’s cut the formalities, Li Jinao—why have you been so particularly courteous to us lately?” Li Jin'ao didn't expect such a direct question, and felt a little embarrassed: "Well, this..." Chang Dong said: "We simply don't have the energy to guess. If you're thinking of something, just say it plainly—there's no need to feel shy. Whether it works or not, it'll all come down to just a few words." Li Jin'ao's face turned red, and after a while, he stammered: "It's like this—you know, the reason I came out here is to advance my career. But I lack connections. I've noticed Miss Liu Xi is very well-connected, so I was thinking..." He understood now—Li Jin'ao saw Ye Liu Xi as a solid tree, completely unaware that the tree itself was struck by lightning and infested with insects, struggling to survive. Chang Dong had something to say, but felt weary and simply reached out to pat Li Jin'ao on the shoulder before going back to his room. This time, he truly turned and went back. Li Jin'ao stood there, feeling a bit lost, and finally twisted his neck to look at the shoulder that Chang Dong had patted, reflecting carefully on what Chang Dong had meant. Tapped twice, heavier on the front, lighter on the back—so is it settled, or not? —— Chang Dong had been lying in bed all along. Tired physically. The way Long Zhi plucked the strings had drained him deeply, and he truly longed to sleep—once he did, he’d no longer have to dwell on all those troubling matters. But he couldn’t sleep. His mind kept replaying the past two years: the sudden shattering of wind bottles in the camp, Kong Yang’s long dress, the wave of criticism that poured in, the first time he’d seen Ye Liuxi standing against the wall, framed by light and shadow… The truth that had been delayed for two years finally poured in, yet instead of feeling a profound relief, or overwhelming sorrow, or fierce resentment, he only felt exhausted. Outside, the sounds remained constant—medical staff came and went, and he heard Ye Liuxi’s return, then Fei Tang and Ah He, and during dinner, the occasional clink of dishes. Once, the door lock made a sudden, sharp sound. The sound was soft, yet in his heart, it suddenly grew heavy—he knew it was Ye Liuxi, and he knew she would certainly be unable to open the door—he had locked it from the inside. He couldn’t quite explain why he had done this. As he closed the door, a complex array of emotions surged through him: he had told Li Jiniao he was unwell, and Li Jiniao would surely pass that on to Ye Liuxi. If Ye Liuxi was worried, she would surely come to see him. He had deliberately locked the door—not merely out of resentment, but also out of an uncontainable frustration: he wasn’t perfect, and Long Zhi’s words had indeed left an impression. He didn’t want to see Ye Liuxi, because he didn’t know how to face her. After that sound of the door closing, Ye Liuxi made no further attempts. The bustling noise gradually settled into stillness, and it was already deep night. Chang Dong felt a severe headache and slowly rose from his bed, taking his cup, preparing to brush his teeth. As soon as the door opened, he saw the living room lit by a small lamp. Ye Liuxi was wrapped Hearing the door creak, she quickly lifted her head, threw the object she was holding, and hurried over in two steps. "Are you okay?" Chang Dong didn't immediately respond; instinctively, he glanced at the clock on the living room wall. It was already two in the morning. He couldn't help asking, "You're not sleeping yet?" Ye Liuxi replied, "Then you must not be feeling well, right? I was worried you might have a recurrence, but you said not to disturb you. I thought you'd have to get up at some point, so I stayed outside." She smiled up at him, "Actually, I've gone to your door several times already. Each time, I've pressed my ear against the door, but there was no movement. I didn't want to wake you, so I didn't knock." She then looked up and down at Chang Dong, "Where exactly are you feeling unwell? Should I call a doctor? You were fine when you came back from the mine, weren't you? Don't make it like Gao Shen..." As she spoke, she herself shivered slightly. Chang Dong looked down at her, listening to her speak nonstop, his eyes a little watery, suddenly feeling his own thoughts rather silly. What was the point of trying to compete with her? Perhaps one day, when she fully regained her memories, he would have the standing to ask her to explain certain things. But right now, Leaf Liuxi didn’t even remember what she had done before. He reached out and held her close, softly saying, "Nothing really. Just a bit tired." Leaf Liuxi remained silent. Previously, when she had been troubled, Chang Dong claimed he could sense it—because the air pressure around her was different, and he could feel it even when he was just a little closer. At the time, he had thought it was nonsense; now he believed it. She sensed that he too had his own concerns, and that his emotions affected her. Leaf Liuxi said, "Do you not like it here much? That’s fine—I don’t either. In the evening, Zhao Guanshou sent someone over to say arrangements had been made, and we can leave as early as tomorrow morning." Chang Dong nodded. The second hand of the clock on the opposite wall ticked steadily and diligently, marking one week after another in his eyes. Should he tell her?