Lizhu’s heart sank. This was no small matter.

The bandits of Hongye Stronghold, though born of poverty and not without their pitiful sides, also carried the savagery and ignorance of men unrefined by civilization.

They desired to seize women, to kill and plunder, to reap without labor. They were not common good citizens, but outlaws turned brigands. The dark impulses of ordinary folk were at least constrained by law, but over their heads, there was only one man — Pei Zhaoye.

The only reason they had abided by the stronghold’s rules was Pei Zhaoye’s iron-handed suppression.

But suppression, after all, was like drinking poison to quench thirst — it did not mean they were truly willing to obey.

If even the smallest tear appeared in that fabric, they would sink their teeth in and never let go.

Once their hearts began to waver, they could even start doubting Pei Zhaoye’s orders — let alone hers, a princess in name only.

Lizhu lowered her gaze. There was no time to think further. When she raised her eyes again, she said,

“Think carefully. Are you certain you know what you’re choosing?”

The dancing girl stared fixedly at the fair-skinned, beautiful young woman before her.

This little girl who had never suffered a day in her life, what did she know?

“If you choose to side with the man behind you, these bandits will lose all restraint in the future. With Hongye Stronghold’s power, the entire Pei residence, even the whole Yiling Commandery, will become their grand brothel.”

Her expression was pitiful, but in her heart she thought — so much the better. Let the whole world become buyers and prostitutes; then no one would be nobler than another.

“But if you choose to side with me.”

Lizhu took her hand, her gaze bright and unwavering.

“I can make a commander of the Imperial Guards take off his robe to clothe you, and no one will dare strip it from you again — because my father is the King of Nanyong, and my mother was once Nanyong’s consort. I was born with a noble title, and by the age of six I already held the revenues of two commanderies. I am, like you, a woman — but not merely a woman. I am of imperial blood, kin to the throne. The words I speak carry weight — as much as his, perhaps even more.”

This string of words crashed into the dancing girl’s ears, leaving her momentarily frozen, breath caught in her throat, stunned.

…What was this girl even babbling about?

The dancing girl had never gone to school, could not read a single word — things like the revenues of two commanderies meant nothing to her.

But the first and the last sentences somehow lodged themselves deep in her heart.

Her words carry weight.

Could they really?

She wasn’t so foolish as to not see, this little princess herself had to rely on a band of outlaws for protection. How could she possibly care about the lives of women like them?

The balance in her heart wavered, and began to tip.

The dancing girl drew the cloak tighter around herself, her eyes filled with a mix of emotions as she cautiously studied Lizhu.

Just then—

“—Something’s wrong!”

A man stumbled in from outside, it was the medical officer who had gone out earlier that day with Danzhu and the others.

Panting heavily, he cried out to everyone present, “Miss Danzhu has killed someone! She’s killed many people! The commotion has alerted the government troops—Danzhu and Chang Jun are both trapped! Princess—”

The words struck like a thunderbolt from a clear sky. Lizhu’s mind went blank for an instant.

There was no time to ask for details, she shot to her feet.

“Go!”

Without hesitation, Lizhu turned to lead her people out, but someone caught her wrist.

It was Tan Xun.

His eyes, in the half-light between dusk and night, were calm as a still lake. For a fleeting moment, Lizhu almost mistook him for Pei Zhaoye.

He said coolly, “The boats at the ferry are ready. Tonight, with both Hongye Stronghold and the officials entangled, it is the perfect time for us to leave.”

Lizhu looked at him in disbelief. “Hongye Stronghold has saved my life several times, how could I abandon them now that they are in trouble?”

“They are bandits. The days of disaster and hardship awaiting them are far from over. Princess, even if you wish to repay their kindness, you must first ensure your own safety before you can repay it.”

For an instant, Lizhu’s gaze swept across the dancing girl on the floor—and suddenly, a thought flashed through her mind.

“Could it be that she was sent by you—”

“Me? What about me?”

Tan Xun frowned slightly, as if puzzled.

Gu Bing’an and the group of mountain men, who had already stepped past the door, turned back at once.

Among them, discontent was already beginning to show on a few faces.

Lu Yu secretly tightened his grip on his sword.

Having dealt with these bandits for several days now, he knew well that they were ruled by strong passions—quick to love, quick to hate, and reckless in their actions.

Yesterday, when Lizhu had gifted them armor and allowed them to parade with honor, they had treated her with respect and regard, as though she were one of their own.

But if today the Princess were to abandon them and flee at the first sign of danger, these men would turn on her without hesitation.

“…It’s nothing.”

Lizhu was still unaware of the dark undercurrents stirring behind her. She only glanced once at Jie Yun standing behind Tan Xun.

Then she pushed the dancing girl toward Jie Yun’s side.

Jie Yun glanced at the dancing girl, his eyes obscure and chilling.

Lizhu stared straight at Tan Xun and blurted,

“Tan Xun, since you have fifty cavalrymen under your command, I’m entrusting the Pei residence to you. If anyone in this house dies without reason, or if Pei Zhaoye is framed for anything, I’ll hold you personally responsible!”

Tan Xun’s eyes widened slowly, disbelief flashing across his face.

Framing Pei Zhaoye?

She actually suspected him, for the sake of that bandit?

Lizhu turned decisively.

“—I lied.”

The dancing girl suddenly spoke up. The pitiful, tear-stained expression vanished from her face, replaced by weary impatience.

“I went to your Mountain Lord’s room on my own. Nothing happened last night. These bruises, I pinched them myself. You should have your Mountain Lord see a physician instead. I stripped bare and he still turned around and walked out, probably can’t even get it up…”

Before she could finish, someone abruptly pulled her into a tight embrace.

A faint, clean scent, laced with ink and warmth, filled her senses, startling her motionless on the spot.

When she looked down, the young girl who only moments ago had remained composed and resolute now smiled up at her—bright and genuine.

“You believed me. That’s wonderful. Wait for me to return. Take care.”

In the next instant, the girl’s figure and the mountain men vanished through the doorway.

The dancing girl stood frozen for a long time, speechless.

•—–٠✤٠—–•

The night stretched endlessly; torches flickered along Xiangcheng’s long streets.

A hundred li away, moonlight bathed Yushan. River tides surged, waves pushing forth layers of killing intent that rolled one after another toward the shore.

“…Second Chief, are you sure the news is accurate? If the Demon of the Mountain isn’t in Yushan, where else could he be?”

A large warship sailed through the dark waters of the river.

Torches burned at its prow, and several water bandits stood there, peering toward the shadowed silhouette of Hongye Stronghold upon Yushan, unease written all over their faces.

This wasn’t their first clash with Hongye Stronghold; the terror left by previous encounters ran deep.

If the Demon of the Mountain wasn’t inside, they might still have some courage—but if he was there, none of the men below could be counted on.

“What’s there to fear? Even if he’s there, so what! We’ve got an important mission this time, official backing from high above and brand-new steel-armed ballistae. I refuse to believe we can’t step foot on that cursed mountain!”

The deputy chief of the Jiacao Canal gang bellowed, his loud voice carrying over the roar of the river, as if to bolster their courage.

“I heard Hongye Stronghold recently captured a girl so beautiful she puts every other woman to shame, said even after years of raiding we’ve never seen such a heavenly beauty. When we storm Yushan and take Hongye Stronghold, I’ll see for myself what kind of celestial fairy she is! Whoever sees her gets a share, hahaha—”

Thunk!

A muffled thud echoed from beneath the hull, cutting off his laughter. The torches wavered.

Every one of the water bandits, men seasoned in navigating rivers, turned pale in unison and stared toward the reed-filled shallows where shadows overlapped thickly.

There’s an ambush in the water!

“What are you panicking for!”

The Second Chief wiped his face, a fierce light flashing in his eyes.

“Bring the heavy crossbows up, fire into the water! Could I be ambushed in this reed-flower marsh a second time…”

The thuds of heavy crossbow bolts cutting through the air and plunging into the water rose one after another; after a moment, corpses floated up from the reed-flower marsh.

Several at the prow showed joy.

Good omen!

If we can take Hongye Stronghold, not only can we rise among the greens, we can also give an accounting to the man backing us.

This time, the other side has put real money down, ordering us to make sure Hongye Stronghold is wiped out; our lives and fortunes are staked, absolutely no room for failure…

“Ah!”

Suddenly there was the sound of a heavy object falling on the ship.

“Who is that!?”

“How did he get on board!”

“Board him! Quickly board him, he’s only one man!”

Only a few weak torches burned over the dark river. The Second Chief and the men beside him turned and saw the entire boat of water bandits, a black mass, surrounding a towering figure.

Within two or three breaths, bloody corpses were already piled at his feet.

To have such unconquerable courage and dare to charge ahead alone, there could only be one person.

Second Chief: “You are… Pei, Pei—”

The bandit chief in civil-and-military sleeves flourished his sword; the blood on the blade flung an arc through the air.

“Who just said, ‘whoever sees gets a share’?”

Cold sweat ran down the Second Chief; trembling, he had not yet met the enemy and was already scared out of his wits.

The chief grinned, the silver ring on his tongue flashing a cold gleam.

“I’ll first let your asshole have a share.”