At dawn, Li Jiniao was jolted awake by a nightmare. He had been taken to parade by the Yulin Guards, only to escape after great difficulty, only to be pursued by scorpions with eyes like scorpions' stings. Countless giant scorpions, each as large as a basin, chased him relentlessly from behind. He fled, desperately paddling his way across the marsh of corpses, finally reaching the shore, exhausted. But just as he rested, a massive black shadow suddenly descended upon him—living tombs, bending down to swallow him whole. Li Jiniao opened his eyes and saw the gray night sky. Perhaps it was because the piles of corpses were so vast—the night here wasn't quite dark, always somewhat diluted by the sheer expanse. He wiped the cold sweat from his brow and pulled the blanket up over himself, only then realizing that the Mountain River had once again settled into his arms. Man, just before falling asleep, he had clearly been warming his feet by placing the Zhun Shan He and Zhun Si Hai right on his feet. Seeing how reliable Zhun Si Hai was—sleeping like a corpse—only Zhun Shan He managed to twitch and jump around. He really wanted to give it a solid slap. Well, he couldn't afford to offend it. Since three days ago, when Zhun Shan He, carrying a silver chain with a dragon family insignia on its clasp, had magically appeared here with small, delicate steps, Li Jinao had known that Zhun Shan He’s life was destined to be anything but ordinary. Man, what on earth happened to it—how did it manage to get the silver silkworm’s heart strings and still remain spirited all the way here? Now, Li Jinao looks at it with no less than three parts of reverence. Zhun Shan He must have become a spirit! But if it truly has become a spirit, can it help them break through this current predicament? Li Jinao sighed, and beneath the distant, strange shadow, the pale green phosphorescence drifted gently. This was the Eighteen Living Tombs—the earthen platform here was more grotesque and terrifying than anywhere Liu Xi explained that the Eye Tomb, the Living Grave, and the Human Frame were deeply interconnected. After the Eye Tomb was killed, the eighteen Living Graves soon began to die one after another, each struggling desperately like a human being—so their post-mortem poses were particularly haunting. The final batch of feedings did not fully result in successful hatching. He had counted them—there were at least three Living Graves that failed to hatch, as the soil of those three graves was semi-permeable, allowing faint glimpses of the bodies wrapped inside. Truly tragic—stillborn, yet even the ones that hatched weren’t any better off. His gaze shifted to the off-road vehicle. Ye Liu Xi and Ah He were both sleeping inside, and there were still some food and drink supplies left on Chang Dong’s vehicle. For the past few days, they had been relying on these supplies, but sitting on a steady diet eventually runs out—especially since the supplies were not abundant. A food shortage would not be far off. Over the past few days, chatting with Ye Liu Xi intermittently, he had gradually come to understand who she was and what had happened. It was both heartening and worrying. What's pleasing is that it's rare—once every thousand years—that someone with a western bone and an eastern soul can recognize such a distinguished figure; to have known such a person is truly a blessing of three lifetimes. What's worrying, however, is that she's a rebel, in such a dire situation, and he's still tied to her fate—when he first left his homeland, he had vowed to make his mark, to achieve fame and fortune. Now it seems their story is destined to end in tragedy. Li Jinao felt deeply concerned. In recent days, there has been little activity outside, no major assaults, and no signs of anyone breaking through. He observed that the Yulin Guards seemed determined to starve them out here. In ancient warfare, when a city could not be captured, it was often besieged, and after a year or two, with supplies running out, even the most resilient spines would bend. He couldn't quite understand what the young lady from the stream thought—she insisted on pushing forward that night, a classic case of drinking poison to quench thirst. Even if she lived a few more days, what tangible benefit would that bring? The situation outside seemed unsettled. After listening to the reports, Li Jinao The ruin resembled a fortress, with numerous recessed openings that made it easy to climb and maneuver. He scaled it step by step, keeping his body low, then raised his telescope. It was still dark, and the view was blurry. Li Jinao squinted hard, striving again and again, until he finally made out movement—more than one person, a series of faint silhouettes filling the field of vision, advancing slowly toward him. Li Jinao was startled, his heart racing, and he scrambled down frantically: "Miss Liu Xi, Miss Liu Xi..." The final step missed, and he tumbled down with a soft thud. A few seconds later, the lights in the car came on. Ye Liu Xi sat up, still half-asleep. "What's wrong?" asked she. Ahu also sat up, wrapping a blanket around him. Li Jinao stammered: "People—people—there are people—many people—they've broken through!" Ye Liu Xi replied: "Isn't this inevitable? They couldn't enter earlier because of the marsh of corpses. Now, I'd say they've probably mapped out the route." She yawned, slightly weary from being woken from a deep sleep. It was hard to believe she still had the energy to yawn—Li Jin'ao's legs were trembling like leaves in the wind. "Then, Miss Liu Xi, what shall we do?" Liu Xi said, "I'll rest a while longer. Please keep an eye on things—find out whether it's the Yulin Guard or someone else." Li Jin'ao was puzzled. "Of course it's the Yulin Guard. Who else could it be?" Liu Xi smiled. "That's not certain. When I first explored the route, it took me a long time. They only took a few days, and with so many people arriving and moving so swiftly, the casualties must be significant—far more than just a few. Given Zhao Guanshou and Long Zhi's cautious natures, they wouldn't have let the Yulin Guard take such risks. Please go check again." She reached out and extinguished the lamp, then said to Ah He, "Let's rest a while." Li Jin'ao climbed back up to the living mound, halfway up, and looked down. The carriage was dark. In the corner It was so eerie, as if fighting a solitary war, or as if the emperor didn't hurry and the eunuchs would die anyway—someone who had been unfairly dragged into the fray, whose heart was worn thin, yet what on earth had he done? He kept muttering and climbed up the mound again. The wind was strong, and cold, making him hunch and fidget. Li Jinao held the telescope for a while, then set it down, rubbing his hands and pressing them to his ears, only to pick it up again and repeat this several times. Gradually, the sky grew less dark. Suddenly, he realized that not only were people moving, but something else was stirring right beneath the ground. Li Jinao held his breath. Getting closer, he saw clearly—scorpions! Not just one, but a swarm! Exactly as in his nightmare: some large, some small, the larger ones as big as wheels, the smaller ones as big as a basin, flowing in like a tide. Li Jinao was so frightened that he couldn’t even shout; he nearly rolled down the mound, and when he finally spoke, his upper and lower teeth clicked together incessantly: “Liu... Liu Xi, Miss Liu, it’s There was no movement in the car for a while. Eventually, Ye Liuxi finally rose, no longer concerned about the scorpion-eyed man, and instead took the time to reprimand him: "Your courage is truly no different from that of the once-limp Tang—you're quite as flustered as ever. Li Jin'ao, after all, is a descendant of the Li family with a lineage of Daoist scholars, someone who has ventured out alone before. How can you be so慌张, so unsteady, like this?" Since dawn was approaching, she no longer intended to sleep. She rubbed her eyes and sat up, the silver silkworm heart-string wrapped around her right wrist, glowing softly. She then instructed Ah He: "I need to get ready for the morning. Could you help me?" Ah He nodded. With only one hand free, she had to assist with daily routines—over the past few days, it had been Ah He who had helped Ye Liuxi with her morning routines. Ah He poured some mineral water into a cup and handed the toothbrush with toothpaste to Ye Liuxi. As Ye Liuxi brushed her teeth, Li Jin'ao circled her, saying, "Miss Liux "Yexiaolxi had finished brushing, took the cup from Ahho, gulped down a few sips, then spat it out: "Yes." Li Jinao truly wanted to take her place in the panic: "Miss Liuxi, we're in serious trouble!" Yexiaolxi smiled gently: "With the crisis at hand, why not just wash your face?" Li Jinao, not particularly charming, paced anxiously: "Right now, I don't have the heart to wash my face, Miss Liuxi—our lives are about to be lost!" Ahho remained silent, handed Yexiaolxi a towel. After wiping her face, Yexiaolxi looked up at Li Jinao: "If you want to survive, there's still a way." Li Jinao's eyes sparkled: "What way?" These days, though he had been constantly anxious, each time he saw Yexiaolxi, a quiet hope stirred within him: she didn't seem to be completely out of options—perhaps she still held some hidden cards yet to be played. Ye Liuxi asked him, "Have you ever performed 'Drunk Attack on the Golden Branch'? The驸马 Guo Hai strikes the princess, and by law, Guo Ziyi, as her father, cannot escape responsibility—how did he handle it?" Li Jiniao replied, "He bound himself and brought him to the throne." Ye Liuxi said, "Indeed, he clears both the relationship and the guilt—why not do the same? You could also stage a sudden reversal on the battlefield, bind me and remove me. That's recognizing the situation, abandoning the shadows for the light. Perhaps, with a pleased heart, the people from the Scorpion's Eye faction will treat you generously." Li Jiniao remained silent. Ye Liuxi then produced Chang Dong's toiletry bag, pulled out his men's facial mist, slightly lifted her chin, closed her eyes, and gently pressed the nozzle. A fine, cool mist instantly enveloped her face, offering her a brief moment of relief—such a luxury in this situation, truly rare. A faint smile curled at her lips, barely noticeable. Where is Chang Dong now? Based on the timeline, Fei Tang should have already transferred both Ding Liu and himself to the nearest hospital. He must be sleeping soundly, lying comfortably, with meals brought to him and pleasant young nurses to keep him company—quite a pleasant experience. A little envious, so he pressed the spray nozzle a bit longer. Then he urged Li Jin'ao and Ahu: "How about your thoughts? I'm serious—this is only one chance. Once it's gone, it's gone." Ahu bit her lip and shook her head. Ye Liuxi turned to Li Jin'ao: "And you?" Li Jin'ao looked rather subdued: "Let's just call it off. At my age, I'd like to keep some dignity. I simply can't bring myself to rebel at the last minute." Besides, Miss Liuxi has a certain reserve and is quite sharp—she's even stern. Take the incident when she lost her hand, for instance. That was so heartbreaking; even he had to wipe away a few tears. Yet she seemed completely unphased. That night, when Ahu rewrapped her wound, she actually said: "Why not use a flame to gently burn the wound? That way, recovery will be "Things are turbulent within the region, and the world is full of surprises and maneuvering—nobody truly acts without strategy. Li Jin'ao feels he's also playing his cards: if he has to pick a side, he'd better pick a strong one. Ye Liuxi smiles and says, 'Well, then, once the bow is drawn, there's no going back. From now on, you'll all follow me. You go and check on the situation outside. Ahhe, fetch my bag.' Ahhe pulls out a slightly worn black canvas backpack from the back of the vehicle—a bag that's usually left behind and rarely used by Ye Liuxi. Ye Liuxi reaches in, probes around, and pulls out a slender eyeliner pen. She bites down on it to open the cap, then runs the tip lightly across Ahhe's wrist to test the color. 'I bought this for five yuan—surprisingly, it hasn't dried out and still works.' Ahhe doesn't know what she's planning, just stares at her. Ye Liuxi settles into the car, adjusts the rearview mirror slightly downward, and slowly guides the concentrated black ink from the pen tip toward the outer corner of her eyes." With no escape in sight, Li Jin'ao felt reassured upon thinking of the vast army outside: though outnumbered, dying on the battlefield would not be shameful—it would even add a touch of grandeur. As he climbed upward, only two steps had he taken when suddenly a deep, resonant horn sound rose all around, like a rolling mass of thick clouds pressing down from above. In that instant, the earth trembled, and even his heart within his chest began to resonate faintly. The town's forces surged upward, leaping and darting with such speed that they outpaced Li Jin'ao by a step. Li Jin'ao followed shortly after. Before them stretched a dense mass, so close that they could now clearly see each other's faces. The scorpion troops truly appeared disorganized—unlike the Yulin Guard, whose uniforms were standardized. Some wore varied attire, a few of which looked neat and unobtrusive; most, however, resembled mountain bandits, with some wearing braids, others sporting full beards, and many even bare-chested in such cold weather. Both men and women were present, most of whose faces were streaked with dark oil, and at every foot, there lay a scorpion. Each scorpion was massive, its shell tough and its claws sharp, its curved, segmented tails welded like iron plates, limbs extended and claws hooked, ready to pounce at any moment. Then, another call to arms sounded, and Li Jin'ao noticed that on the distant earthen platform, long antlers were erected—each antler composed of successive layers of leather wrapped in copper, amplifying the sound, culminating in a tiger's head, its jaws wide open, from which Li Jin'ao had heard that when there were major military campaigns or sieges, the "Tiger's Head" signal was used—the saying being "Wind follows the tiger," where when the tiger roars, winds from all directions rise, adding to the solemn and fierce atmosphere. Yet this display seemed rather grandiose. Here, there were only three people, plus two rather unruly chickens... Just as he was thinking this, a bright, clear rooster call suddenly rang out from beside him— Cock-a-doodle-doo! Li Jin'ao, unprepared, wasn't startled by the horn, but was instead drenched in cold sweat. Looking down, he saw Zhen Sihai, his horse-steps steady, nearly splitting his back in two, his neck stretched long and his feathers on his wings standing upright, striving with all his might to call out to the dense crowd of people and scorpions, as if determined to match the sound of the horn. Well, Zhen Sihai always possessed the courage of an ant trying to shake a mighty tree. Laughter erupted within the Scorpion-Eye Formation, as no fewer than dozens simultaneously raised their bows, releasing arrows that streaked toward the living tomb with a series of sharp *swoosh* sounds. Li Jin'ao rolled over, flipping down toward the tomb, and caught hold of the iron chain hanging from Zhen Sihai's foot. Together, they tumbled off the tomb, crashing down with a clatter of dust and fine ash. Ahu choked, clutching her mouth and nose. Ye Liuxi turned to look at Li Jin'ao, gently curling her hand to neatly secure the stinger of the scorpion protruding from her right eye. Li Jin'ao stared at her, wide-eyed. The scorpion at her eye seemed alive—its tail curled inward, its pincers gripping fiercely from either side. The dark, ink-black eyes, like a prey about to be swallowed, gleamed with a compelling intensity. Outside, a loud, urgent cry rang out: "Where is Ye Liuxi? Come out! We'll have our blood debt settled!" A chorus of voices joined in: "Kill her! Blood for blood!" Li Jin'ao stammered: "Miss Liu Xi, outside... outside..." Ye Liu Xi said: "All right, you go on to the car and wait there." Li Jin'ao felt she still didn't grasp the severity of the situation: "No, Miss Liu Xi, as soon as you appear, they'll shoot arrows at you... what will you do?" Ye Liu Xi looked up at the living mound's peak and said: "Don't worry. The most difficult thing has already been handled by Long Zhi." She curled her fingers and brought the tip to her lips. A soft, delicate whistle escaped—gentle, steady, and distinct, not loud, yet unmistakable. With a little attention, one would never miss it. The noise outside gradually settled. Ye Liu Xi lowered her hands, brushed her sleeve over her wrist to cover the chain, and swiftly climbed up the mound. Ah Hu looked up, watching her ascend to the peak. She knew that Ye Liuxi had just blown the scorpion whistle—a skill reportedly mastered by the Scorpion Eye people, yet elusive to outsiders. The scorpion whistle wasn’t complicated; it stood for common phrases such as “danger,” “retreat,” “safe,” or “we are allies—don’t harm one another.” The one Liuxi had just blown likely meant that everyone was on the same side. But how to break through the impasse? Being able to blow the scorpion whistle wasn’t anything extraordinary. A man stepped forward, clearly a leader—broad-shouldered and sturdy, with his hair shaved down to a neat, stiff crew cut at the crown, the individual strands standing out stiff and strong. He held a heavy, broad-bladed knife, as if it had been forged from the blades of a large shears. "Ye Luoxi," he declared, "you've killed our lord. Today is your death date!" Ye Luoxi sneered, "Who said so? Did you see it with your own eyes?" Standing tall, she commanded the room with her presence, her expression cold and composed, utterly unflinching. The crew cut momentarily faltered, at a loss for words, and after a pause, replied, "It's truly ridiculous—what Qingzhi said, could it be false?" Ye Luoxi turned her gaze toward the distance. The Scorpion's arrival had brought hundreds of people, packed tightly, forming a bustling crowd. "What if," she asked, "what Qingzhi said isn't true? After all, wouldn't it make more sense that she killed Jiang Zhan herself? If so, why hasn't she shown up to take justice for Jiang Zhan's death?" What matter could possibly be more important than avenging Jiang Zhan's death? Is it that they fear exposure in their current standoff and thus hesitate to come?... Before she finished speaking, suddenly someone from behind the scorpion array cheered, "Lady Qingzhi has arrived!" Leaf Liu raised her eyes to see: Long Zhi was dressed in a black cloak with a hood, being escorted by several guards, ascending the nearest Yadan terrace. Someone stepped forward beside her, pointing at Leaf Liu and shouting, "You, you lowly woman! Stop stirring up trouble and sowing discord—spilling mud on Lady Qingzhi! I saw it all—right there! It was you! In Jin Yang's cave, you severed Master Zhan's arm with one stroke. Do you deny it?" It now made sense why Long Zhi had spared the scorpion guards at Jin Yang's cave—she had clearly been saving them as witnesses. Leaf Liu replied firmly, one word at a time: "I admit it. Jiang Zhan defied his superiors—by cutting off Master Zhan's arm, I merely gave him a mild reprimand. I did not kill him." The scorpion array stirred slightly again. Ban C "Yefu Xi said: 'The Scorpion Eye has a strict hierarchy, with the Scorpion Master at the top. Jiang Zhan has committed an offense against me—he has offended the Scorpion Master himself.' Long Zhi laughed: 'Yefu Xi, your appetite is truly enormous! You've killed Jiang Zhan and now you're spreading rumors, claiming I'm a traitor. Just one touch, and you've already ascended to Scorpion Master. With another touch, won't the entire Black Stone City be yours? I think your mouth alone could create a world...' As she said this, her expression grew serious: 'Don't waste time talking to her—kill her! Shoot!' Before she finished speaking, the crossbows rose in unison. Seeing the situation growing dire, Yefu Xi swiftly slid to the side, landing on one side of the tomb mound. The dense barrage of arrows fell like a rain, yet the angled top of the mound deflected many of the feathers—some skimmed over, others pierced the mound's body—none of them reached her. Amidst the flying arrows, Yefu Xi laughed loudly: 'What's this "Qingzhi Miss"? She's nothing but the daughter of the "Bring the scorpions! Let them sting her with hundreds and thousands of stings, until she dies of poison!" As soon as the words fell, the scorpion signals sounded off, and the scorpions advanced with fierce determination—some crawling along the ground, others scaling the earthen platforms—forming a dense, wave-like tide. Li Jin'ao, peering from behind the living tomb, saw the scene and dashed toward the carriage, shouting, "Quick! Get on the carriage—close the doors and windows!" He hurried up the steps and onto the carriage. Ahu's face turned as pale as death, and she rushed to cover the broken window with the blanket. Yet Li Jin'ao still felt something was missing. Turning around, he jumped in agitation—Zhenshanhe had fainted halfway, and Zhensi Hai, seemingly having another fit, charged straight into the midst of the scorpion swarm. Ye Liuxi rose to his feet, fixing his gaze firmly on Long Zhi. Long Zhi lifted her hood and met his gaze with equal determination. The closest scorpion had already reached the living tomb, its pincers extended, climbing upward. Around the yellow terraces, a thick, swirling scorpion hue had settled early. Leaf Liuxi arched a smile, meeting Long Zhi's gaze, and gently brought her finger to her lips. A sharp, piercing whistle sounded, growing sharper and higher. The scorpion swarm continued climbing. The ground seemed to tremble slightly, yet in the chaos, few noticed. Long Zhi exhaled, then instructed the nearest attendant, "We'll launch another wave of arrows shortly—make sure she..." Before he finished speaking, a tremendous roar erupted from deep within the living tomb, where a terraced platform exploded with a thunderous crash, dust and soil rising like smoke and scattering in all directions. Long Zhi raised her hand to shield her face, and in her peripheral vision, she saw the thousand scorpions suddenly retreating as if facing a great threat. A voice from within the scorpion ranks cried out in desperate urgency: "Golden scorpion! It's a golden scorpion!" Amid the hazy dust, a massive scorpion figure gradually emerged, its body gleaming in rich golden hues, its claws resembling iron arms. Its tail swept high into the air, reaching nearly two or three meters tall, and in just a few swift movements, it scaled the mound and settled firmly at the side of Ye Liuxi. Long Zhi felt her throat tighten, unconsciously stepping back a pace. "That can't be right," she murmured. "When the golden scorpion fought the Eye of the Tomb, didn't it perish? How could it have—?" Ye Liuxi laughed heartily. "Long Zhi, do you know why, when I founded the Eye of the Scorpion, I insisted on having one person paired with one scorpion? Because a person governs a person, and a scorpion governs another scorpion. The scorpions nurtured by the Scorpion Master must be the true rulers among the scorpions—the ones who command all others. In the past, I called Qing the Master, while Jiang Zhan only referred to him as 'Master Zhan,' because he was my deputy and could not be publicly recognized as the chief. You may certainly devise schemes and plots to deceive the people The place where the Eye Mound rests, where the living tombs thrive in havoc—on some level, it is also an ideal spot for the Golden Scorpion to recover after a severe injury. I know you won't want to let the Avian Guards scout ahead. I'll be right here, waiting for you to deliver the Scorpion's people to me! Silence fell across the Scorpion's ranks. After a moment, doubt and unease surged like a tide, spreading outward as hesitant glances kept shifting toward Long Zhi. Though the situation wasn't yet fully clear and it wasn't certain which of the two to trust, the existence of the Golden Scorpion was undeniable, and the Scorpion's deep reverence for him was evident. Long Zhi remained still, her hands and feet growing cold. The Avian Guards, who had been posing as bodyguards, sensed the shift in momentum and lowered their voices: "Madam Long, thank goodness we've been well-prepared outside. We're ready to act at any moment. Now things seem off—should we... act?" Long Zhi nodded. Six Manticore Guards entered with her, each with a clear assigned role. Four of them spread out in all directions, seizing the moment when the others were unprepared, and suddenly launched their crushing cannons. Upon impact with the ground, the cannons exploded, sending sharp iron spikes and splinters spinning outward, instantly disrupting the Scorpion formation. The other two took advantage of the chaos to protect Long Zhi and flee. One of them raised a signal flare—cloud-piercing—just as the Scorpion ranks were still reacting; by then, cries of battle had already erupted from the rear, where an unexpected contingent of Feathers of the Forest had surged forth, quickly overturning the surrounding earthen platforms and raining down arrows from all sides. Arrows targeted Li Liu’s position, and the Golden Scorpion swiftly waved its stinger, deflecting the incoming shafts. Li Liu’s expression remained as still and calm as still water, then stepped down from the living tomb. Li Jiniao stepped out of the SUV, feeling the situation shift constantly—his aging heart was truly struggling: "Liu Xi, what about Long Zhi?..." Before he could finish, a crowd of people hurriedly retreated, with the one at the forefront being the man with a crew cut—formerly the guard who had scolded her—along with several others who appeared to be in leadership positions. All of them looked awkward and unfamiliar upon seeing her. The cries of battle rose one after another, with wounded Scorpion eyes retreating into the pathways between the living tombs, blood staining the ground, the sharp crack of blades and the sound of cuts so close they were clearly audible—occasionally, one could see Scorpion chelae severed from their bodies. Then a voice roared out: "We pledge allegiance! As long as we can make it out, we pledge allegiance!" The voice quickly merged into a continuous chorus. "We pledge allegiance—please, let the Western Lord issue the command!" "Everything under the Western Lord’s direction!" Yefu Xi’s eyes flickered with a gentle smile. She pointed to where the golden Scorpions had just appeared: "Bring out the burial items—there are several boxes." Board-Height, leading a group of over a dozen, surged forward and soon brought several wooden crates. The crates were locked. Board-Height seized a hatchet from a nearby person and struck it down with a powerful blow, then lifted the lid. Outside, the battle cries continued, yet here, the scene fell abruptly silent. It was the guns—of various lengths and sizes—whose black bodies gleamed with a cold, sharp l Ye Liu smiled gently at the corner of her lips, lowering her hands so that the silver chain slid off her wrist. She curled her fingers around it, watching the silver circle sway softly— During the time when the White Dragon was gathering, strange things always happened. The situation back then was still unclear. One night, Chang Dong called her aside and handed her a gun, asking if she knew how to use it. She remembered answering that she seemed to know how, though not particularly familiar. Then, she simply inserted the gun into her back waist, moving naturally and skillfully. Later, every time she recalled this, she found it odd. Since she knew how to use a gun, she must have had experience with it—yet in the interior region, guns were scarce. Such a practical item, and given that she wasn’t lacking in resources, why hadn’t she brought any along during all those repeated shipments? After her hand was severed, she regained both her memory and the original reasoning. She had feared that once the gun was scattered, it would lose control and possibly be used against her. So she had kept it a secret, though still preserved it, because she trusted no one. She tightened the chain in her hands. When she was seventeen, she and Jiang Zhan had escaped from the Golden Mine. From that moment until she founded Xieyan, and then until Xieyan had grown strong enough to threaten Black Stone City—seven years had passed. Today’s crisis was now resolved, but she didn’t yet know how many more days or nights it would take to move from emerging from the pile of dead in Yadan to standing at the gates of Black Stone City. Only someone who held the leverage could sit at the negotiating table. Only when she truly posed a threat to Black Stone City would Zhao Guanshou seriously consider her proposal not to invade the city, and genuinely offer high-deep and Jiang Zhan in exchange. Only then would Long Shen be willing to sit down, and for the sake of the greater good, agree to some of her conditions—Long Zhi was beyond hope, but the Long family had other people who could touch the heartstrings, didn’t they? She would move swiftly, without regard for day or night. After all, Chang Dong’s days were running out.