That night.
Hengshan Ferry.
The river wind howled, whipping up the withered grass on the cliffs on both banks, emitting a mournful sound.
Below the ferry, the turbid river water lashed against the reefs with a sound like thunder.
In order not to alarm the great demon that might arrive, not many torches were lit inside the camp.
Only a few dim, yellow wind lamps were left, swaying precariously in the night.
At the top of the highest watchtower.
Jiang Yuechu sat cross-legged, quietly gazing at the ink-black surface of the river.
Not far from her side.
Xie Tinglan leaned against the railing, using the faint moonlight from the top of the tower to write something, though it was unclear what.
Jiang Yuechu turned her head, her gaze falling on his profile.
After watching for a moment.
She finally spoke.
"Lieutenant Xie."
Xie Tinglan's hand trembled, and he nearly dropped his pen in fright. He looked up and smiled sheepishly.
"Lord Jiang... you haven't slept yet?"
Jiang Yuechu shook her head.
This place was built temporarily, and the conditions were really not good.
Regardless, with her current Realm, not sleeping for a day or two did not matter.
She lifted her chin, signaling the object in his hand.
"Writing a last will and testament?"
"..."
Xie Tinglan's mouth twitched, and he said helplessly, "Lord Jiang, you are joking... it has not reached that point yet."
He carefully blew the ink dry and folded the letter paper.
"It is a letter to My Master."
"Commander Lu?"
Xie Tinglan sighed and explained, "I should have written it long ago, but when I heard in County that we were returning to Taihu Lake, I thought I should go through the Suzhou general headquarters..."
"But who knew that General Yue would not even go to Suzhou to pay a visit, and instead pulled the team directly to this Hengshan Ferry."
"Although the military situation is urgent and we must act expediently, we have not been in contact for many days."
"Although My Master is strict on weekdays, he treats me very well. If there is no news for a few days, I am afraid he will start cursing again at the general headquarters."
Speaking of this, Xie Tinglan scratched his head, his face revealing a hint of naivety.
"So I thought, while the fighting has not started yet, I would write a letter and have someone send it back."
"To report that I am safe, and to save the Old Man from worrying blindly."
Jiang Yuechu was slightly startled.
Reporting safety...
"Oh..."
She responded softly.
Her voice was very light and was instantly blown away by the river wind.
Jiang Yuechu didn't really understand this feeling.
In her previous life... she was just a lone wolf, with no relatives worth missing.
Waking up in this life, she was in this female body; apart from demons, there were only people who wanted to kill her.
Along the way, from the northern lands to the south of the river.
She had killed many people and many demons.
Her strength grew stronger, and her status grew higher.
But if she were to die in battle tomorrow at this Hengshan Ferry...
It seemed there would not be many people in this world who would care.
Inexplicably.
A faint trace of envy arose in her heart.
It was just a trace.
It was quickly suppressed by her.
"Lord Jiang?"
Xie Tinglan seemed to have noticed the young girl's anomaly.
He carefully leaned over.
"Are you... alright?"
Jiang Yuechu's expression did not change, and she just said indifferently, "Nothing."
Xie Tinglan was not stupid; he could naturally tell that this was an evasion.
But he did not expose her, just followed Jiang Yuechu's example, gazing at the river water in a daze.
For a long time.
Xie Tinglan suddenly spoke, his tone filled with some emotion.
"Actually... I envy Lord Jiang very much."
"Envy me?"
Jiang Yuechu raised her eyebrows, "Envy me for what? Envy that I have no one to manage me?"
"Not entirely."
Xie Tinglan smiled, his eyes somewhat unfocused.
"I envy Lord Jiang's skills, and even more, I envy your youthful spirit."
"Seventeen years old and at the Late Stage of the Ink Staining Realm, alone, going wherever you want, killing whoever you want."
"Such freedom, such gratification of grievances and debts, is what we martial artists dream of."
Speaking of this, he lowered his head and laughed at himself.
"I grew up in Suzhou Prefecture. When I was six, I was favored by Master and brought back to the general headquarters."
"Practicing martial arts early in the morning, reading at sunset, what Cultivation Technique to practice, what weapon to use, even the first time I killed a demon, Master personally guarded me and picked a half-crippled wolf demon for me to practice on."
"Others envy me."
"They say I am Commander Lu's final Disciple, the future pillar of this Jiangdong Military Commission, a Brigade Commander at a young age, with limitless prospects."
"It is ridiculous to say... having grown up this much, I haven't even really left the boundaries of the Region East of the River."
"Master said the situation in Region East of the River is complex. I am a piece of good jade that must be carefully carved. I cannot easily take risks, and even less can I be tainted by those wild habits of the Jianghu."
"Eating the best Medicinal Pill, practicing the most superior Cultivation Technique, listening to the flattery of those around me, yet I don't even know what color the sky outside is..."
"I have heard that the Tang Dynasty's territory is vast and boundless, far beyond this corner of the south of the river. To the north, there are the cold lands of Shuofang where snow never melts all year round. To the west, there is sand covering the sky, and the setting sun is as big as a cart wheel. To the south, there are one hundred thousand mountains..."
Speaking of this, the young Brigade Commander's voice lowered.
He withdrew his gaze, looked at the folded letter in his hand, and muttered:
"I wonder... if I will ever have the chance to see it with my own eyes in this lifetime."
Jiang Yuechu opened her mouth, wanting to say something but stopping.
In the end, it could only turn into a very light sigh.
Things in the world are truly a besieged city.
People inside the city want to go out, and people outside the city want to come in.
Xie Tinglan envied her for being alone, free, and easy.
But how many people envy him for sitting securely in the high hall, with someone to shield him from the wind and rain, and someone to care for him?
"I have made a fool of myself, Lord Jiang."
Xie Tinglan collected his emotions, returning to his usual calm and capable appearance.
"It is fine."
Jiang Yuechu shook her head; words of comfort were on the tip of her tongue, but she felt she didn't know what to say.
She simply stopped talking and just quietly let the biting river wind blow.
Just at this moment.
Below the watchtower, a hearty and rough burst of laughter suddenly came, instantly dispersing the gloom on top of the tower.
"Hahahaha! Inspector Jiang! Inspector Jiang!"
The two looked in the direction of the sound.
They saw Yue Huaiyuan in a soaking wet single layer of clothing, with his pant legs rolled up to his knees; he had clearly just come out of the water.
He was holding a large green fish that was still struggling desperately; the fish tail slapped noisily, splashing water all over his face.
This Old Man did not care at all, instead waving at the watchtower as if presenting a treasure.
"Don't blow in the cold wind there anymore, come down quickly!"
"The fish in this Taihu Lake area are just fat! Even fresher than our County's! It just so happens that I saw half a jar of aged vinegar left in the camp, so I will have someone clean it up, and I will make you a authentic west lake vinegar fish!"
"..."
The next day.
The sky was just beginning to brighten.
Inside the Hengshan Ferry camp, the kitchen was already busy.
The large green fish that Yue Huaiyuan caught yesterday ultimately could not be made into west lake vinegar fish.
It was simply stewed overnight into a pot of thick white fish soup, and a handful of wild scallions were sprinkled on top; the aroma drifted far away with the river wind.
Hundreds of Men squatted on the ground, holding large ceramic bowls, slurping the fish soup, and gnawing on dry rations.
Jiang Yuechu did not make special arrangements; she held her bowl, sat on the steps of the watchtower, and sipped it in small mouthfuls.
The hot soup went down, dispelling the chill of the late autumn morning.
"How does it taste?"
Yue Huaiyuan didn't know when he had come over, holding two steamed buns in his hand, his mouth glistening with grease from eating.
"It is passable."
Jiang Yuechu put down her bowl, her gaze crossing the camp fence and casting onto the turbid, surging river surface.
Time... it should be about time.
Yue Huaiyuan stuffed the steamed buns into his mouth in a few bites, chewed them a few times, swallowed, and then stood up.
The originally playful expression vanished at this moment.
"If you are full, let's get to work."
With this order.
The entire Hengshan Ferry camp instantly sprang into action.
The sound of the horn was low and sobbing.
Hundreds of Demon Suppression Guards quickly put on their armor and rushed to their respective battle stations.
The sixteen divine arm crossbows had their covers removed, revealing their ferocious fangs; the thick crossbow bolts glittered with cold light, pointing directly at the center of the river.
The winch creaked.
The three profound iron Dragon-locking nets submerged at the bottom of the river were pulled tight.
Although it could not be seen, one could clearly feel that the river's flow became more rapid when passing through that area.
At this moment.
Not only Hengshan Ferry.
Looking at the entire Region East of the River.
The three counties surrounding Taihu Lake, the usually bustling wharves and ferry crossings, were all dead silent today.
Merchant ships ceased operations, and fishing boats returned to port.
All commoners were ordered not to approach within ten miles of the waterfront.
And along that long lakeshore.
The eighteen important water passes were now crowded with heavy troops.
Tens of thousands of Demon Suppression Guards, dressed in black with red patterns, holding horizontal blades, stared at the vast misty waves.
For this battle, the Jiangdong Military Commission had almost exhausted all its resources.
The sun gradually rose higher.
Mid-morning...
Noon.
When that red sun hung in the middle of Taihu Lake, illuminating the ten thousand acres of waves with golden light.
Just waiting for the thunder.
To fall.