Perfect Match – CH 052

Chapter 52 [Three Chapters Combined]

Old General Wu and Old Madam Wu were also injured but were still stable.

Teng Yue wanted to send them out of the city, but Shi Zeyou’s men were guarding the city gates. He also wanted to find the two Wu family boys hiding in the north of the city, but Shi Zeyou’s men were also searching the streets and alleys in the north.

Blocked on both sides, Teng Yue considered the situation for a moment and decided to launch a simultaneous attack from both sides.

The Wu family’s personal guard, named Zhang Ying, heard this and quickly asked.

“General Teng may not know this, but Shi Zeyou has a considerable number of men. Even if we launch attacks from both sides simultaneously, they will not be overwhelmed. We’ve already tried this tactic, and it did not work.”

Teng Yue chuckled upon hearing this. “You do not need to worry about that.”

He said, “I will first create chaos in the city, then send men disguised as Shi Zeyou’s men to inform both sides. Inform the city gates to send reinforcements to the north, and then inform the north to send men to reinforce the city gates. Once they’ve divided their forces and their manpower is reduced, we will seize the opportunity to strike them off guard.”

He explained the plan in detail, and his personal guard Zhang Ying was taken aback. “General Teng truly lives up to his reputation as a seasoned commander. With just a few adjustments, his plan is far superior to ours! This loosens the manpower on both sides, giving us our opportunity!”

His eyes gleamed with excitement, but Teng Yue merely smiled, calling it a small scheme.

“But that’s not enough. Shi Zeyou’s forces are not limited to just these two locations. He also has a group he personally leads, specifically to find Old General Wu. That’s the most crucial part.”

He said that besides creating chaos and having both sides feign intelligence, “we also need to have someone impersonate the two Wu brothers to confuse the situation, allowing our forces to fully enter the north of the city to search for the two children.”

He paused, his gaze slightly narrowing.

“As for Shi Zeyou, I will lead a preemptive strike to contain him.”

Having explained the entire plan, Zhang Ying’s eyes widened in astonishment.

“Heavens above! With General Teng unleashing so many arrows at once, Shi Zeyou’s small force simply cannot handle it!”

He had initially said Shi Zeyou had a large army, but now, after hearing Teng Yue’s plan, he realized Shi Zeyou’s forces were far from sufficient.

The guards and personal soldiers Teng Yue had brought all laughed.

Zhang Ying laughed along with them, but his eyes reddened as he laughed.

“Just now, I felt this long night would never end, and dawn was breaking, but now it’s already dawn!”

He stared intently at Teng Yue, as if about to kneel and kowtow, but Teng Yue called him beforehand.

“Your most important task now is to tell us what those two young men look like, especially their builds, so we can use it to deceive them.”

Zhang Ying did not dare to delay, quickly composed himself, and described the two young men’s appearance.

The guards Teng Yue brought were all strong and valiant, except for one who was a bit short, only about the same height as the eldest son of the Wu family. As for the younger brother of the Wu family, Teng Yue looked around among the guards but could not find anyone suitable.

Shen Xiu suggested, “How about we just pretend to be one person to confuse them?”

That was not impossible, but if two people disguised together, the effect would be much more remarkable.

Teng Yue was pondering when someone suddenly stepped forward. “General, I can.”

At this, everyone turned to look. Teng Yue also looked over and saw a pair of bright eyes. Two small, willow-leaf eyebrows and wide, raised eyes were looking at him.

Teng Yue’s heart skipped a beat, and he immediately said, “No!”

Not only did he say no, but even Shen Xiu and the other guards were startled. “Madam, you absolutely must not!”

Everyone waved their hands at her. Zhang Ying was already frightened when he heard that General Teng’s wife was also there, and seeing that she was willing to act as a substitute, he shook his head repeatedly.

“Although Madam’s figure is similar to my young master’s, Shi Zeyou’s men have been chasing us all the way. They are all as fierce as wolves. How can we let Madam put herself in danger?!”

Teng Yue directly grabbed Deng Ruyun’s wrist. “Even if I had no soldiers, I would not need to put you in danger. Do not be silly.”

But Deng Ruyun’s expression turned serious.

“The general’s strategy of firing multiple arrows simultaneously relies on having ample manpower to achieve victory. If I do not act as a decoy and simply wait for the general, he will inevitably send several guards to protect me in case something goes wrong, and I fall into enemy hands. If I cannot help, and I still have to occupy several guards, would that not make me a burden? It’s better for me to go forward and disrupt them. This way, I will not delay the general’s manpower needs, and I can also divert some of the enemy’s attention—a win-win situation.”

Her words were always sharp, and her reasoning, presented logically, swayed everyone.

Although the lady was not skilled in martial arts, with protection, running around the streets would not be a problem. The key was that what she said genuinely made sense.

However, no one dared to stand up against Teng Yue, and they quickly lowered their heads, not daring to speak.

Seeing her small mouth chatter away, analyzing everything for him, Teng Yue could not help but squeeze her hand tightly.

He asked her in a low voice, “Your analysis is so comprehensive; did you not consider that your appearance might distract me? If you distract me, how am I supposed to fight?”

His voice was not loud, but every word reached Deng Ruyun’s ears.

Her heart began to pound, but she retorted, “Then how can I keep the General from being distracted? Should you tie me to your waist or hang me around your neck?”

Her voice was not loud, but no one spoke. Several guards nearby heard her, and a young guard next to Shen Xiu could not help but spit out a laugh, which Shen Xiu quickly covered up.

Thus, everyone was practically bursting with suppressed laughter.

Deng Ruyun’s casual retort had unexpectedly made everyone laugh, but the key was that they did not dare to actually laugh out loud. Looking at Teng Yue, they saw that the man’s ears were even a little red.

He coughed heavily, silencing the guards, who dared not utter a sound. He gritted his teeth and whispered in her ear, “You…also…know.”

“……”

Deng Ruyun felt her heart, which had been pounding just moments before, race even faster.

She could not suppress it, but instinctively knew she could not continue.

She quickly turned her head away, changing her words: “Actually, I’ll just run a short lap, disturb everyone, and then hide back. It will take less than fifteen minutes.”

She added softly, “I do not want to be idle and take up your manpower.”

As she spoke, each word seemed to bubble up in Teng Yue’s heart like boiling water.

If they were not in front of everyone, he would have simply pulled her into his arms.

But he was truly embarrassed, his ears burning even more. He stared at her for a few moments, finally nodding between her stubborn, willow-leaf brows.

“Alright then, you will just run a few steps and hide. If there’s any danger, have someone inform me immediately.”

He agreed. Deng Ruyun involuntarily opened her eyes wide to look at him, but the moment their eyes met, she felt her heart race again, like a galloping horse on a plain, clattering along…

Fortunately, the matter was settled, and Zhang Ying inquired about Teng Yue’s other arrangements.

Teng Yue withdrew his gaze from her eyes and began to explain in detail to Zhang Ying and the others.

While he was not looking, Deng Ruyun took a few deep breaths to suppress her inexplicably rapid heartbeat.

Teng Yue explained the arrangements to everyone for a quarter of an hour, and it was already late.

The operation to relieve the siege was to take place at dawn when the city gates opened.

In Huayin County, a light drizzle began to fall, and the gentle spring breeze carried raindrops past the lanterns on the eaves of distant tall buildings.

In the quiet rainy night, the lanterns flickered, but a battle to break the siege was quietly beginning.

At a temporary courtyard for rest.

Someone wrapped a white cloth tightly around their torn arm, but blood still seeped out. He impatiently continued wrapping when a guard at the door announced something, and he summoned the man in.

“Have you found the Wu family?”

Shi Zeyou looked up, his gaunt face etched with wrinkles, and frowned as he looked down at the men below.

The men shook their heads.

“There’s no news of General Wu and his wife. We did find traces of the young master of the Wu family earlier, but it seems their hiding place is running low on food and medicine, and they are about to collapse. However, our men have lost track of them.”

Shi Zeyou chuckled, but one of his men grabbed a medicine bottle and smashed it across the man’s face.

“Useless.”

The men below dared not utter a sound, but Shi Zeyou did not continue his outburst; he simply closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

“Why is the Wu family so hard to kill? An elderly couple with two boys—I’ve chased them all the way and still have not killed them?”

He pinched his brow, which was furrowed into a deep frown. “I made a big promise to Master Gui. If I killed the Wu family, I’d gain merit. But if I failed, I would not be able to explain myself back home, and that would be a mistake. It’s either merit or a mistake…”

Master Gui, whom he was referring to, was Hong Gui, the nephew of the Chief Eunuch Hong Jin.

He had spent many years rising and falling in the army, his career steadily declining. If it were not for his connection with Hong Gui, he would likely have been trampled underfoot in the army.

Previously, he had only given money and done trivial favors; Hong Gui did not take him seriously, and the Chief Eunuch knew nothing about him.

However, this time, Hong Gui had his eye on the firearms blueprints the Wu family was developing for the Shenji Battalion. Hong Gui wanted the blueprints, but General Wu refused to give them to him. After much wrangling over the blueprints, the Wu family finally enraged Hong Gui. Hong Gui first accused them of treason, but after a petition from court officials, the Emperor pardoned them. However, Hong Gui was filled with resentment and feared the matter would escalate, so he decided to kill the entire Wu family.

However, Hong Gui’s attempts to assassinate them failed. Hearing this, he volunteered for the task, thinking that since he could not advance in the army anyway, if he could accomplish this for Hong Gui, he would instantly become Hong Gui’s confidant. Why bother with meritorious service and promotion? A meteoric rise was within his grasp.

But who could have imagined that so many people would protect the Wu family? One wave was repelled, another appeared, and the Wu family eventually made their way to Huayin County.

The Wu family was originally from Shaanxi. Once they fully settled in Shaanxi, their allies would only increase, while the Chief Eunuch’s influence in the Shaanxi army was still unstable.

Shi Zeyou calculated that time was running out. The best course of action was to eliminate the four members of the Wu family in one fell swoop, right here in Huayin County!

Just as he was pondering this with frustration, there was a sudden commotion outside. He immediately sent men to investigate, and soon they returned quickly, saying that the city gates had just opened. Their men guarding the gates had received orders for reinforcements from the north and had sent some men there. The north had also heard that someone had come to the city gates to request reinforcements and had also sent men, but soon they discovered traces of the Wu family elders at the city gates, and the two young masters of the Wu family were also spotted in the north.

Shi Zeyou sensed something was wrong immediately. He quickly asked, “What’s the situation now?”

His men shook their heads repeatedly. “There’s some chaos at both locations. There’s no further news.”

Upon hearing this, Shi Zeyou immediately stood up, drew his sword, and rushed outside, simultaneously assigning men to stabilize the situation at the city gate and the north side of the city.

“This is a scheme, intended to disrupt our forces. Go quickly; do not fall for it…”

However, before he could finish speaking, a cold arrow suddenly shot from the depths of the dimly lit alley.

This arrow was exceptionally sharp, flying like a ghost, tearing through the air. His guards had no time to cover him; the arrow was aimed straight at Shi Zeyou’s face.

Shi Zeyou was shocked, but being a seasoned soldier, he suddenly leaped to the side and dodged swiftly.

In a flash, the arrow grazed past his right ear with a whoosh, striking the nearby tree with a clang. He’d failed.

Teng Yue, clad in black, narrowed his eyes in the shadows.

Although Shi Zeyou had escaped with his life, a bloody gash had been ripped open on his right ear. His guards panicked instantly.

Teng Yue, hidden in the darkness, had not intended to take him down with a single arrow. No longer playing hide-and-seek, he gave a command, and his men surged out from all directions, surrounding Shi Zeyou’s group.

The newcomers were all dressed in black and masked. Unlike the men he’d fought for so long protecting the Wu family, these new men were agile and organized, clearly not the previous ones—new reinforcements had arrived!

Shi Zeyou’s earlier prediction had come true. They’d barely entered Shaanxi territory, and the men protecting the Wu family had already changed. If they could not succeed today, they might not succeed at all.

A fine drizzle, like silver threads, wove a dense net in the dim city at dawn.

Shi Zeyou could not make out who the newcomers were, but he felt waves of chilling aura wash over him, sending shivers down his spine in the cold rain.

Those who had previously protected the Wu family had mostly been secretly shielding them, and even when they fought, they would retreat immediately afterward.

But the people who came today had first used a trick to disrupt his men, and now they were actually attacking him directly, even showing signs of wanting to kill him.

This behavior was completely different from before.

Shi Zeyou was also alarmed.

He could no longer dispatch the men he wanted to send. Seeing his men struggling against the clash of weapons, he cried out.

“I do not know who you are, but the Wu family has offended the Ninth Prince of the capital. I do not need to tell you how much the Emperor relies on the Ninth Prince. Even if you kill me, do you think the Ninth Prince and his nephew will not send someone else to serve the Wu family?” he said, letting out a heavy snort.

“His Majesty is young and has no interest in politics, while the Ninth Prince is in his prime. His Majesty has entrusted him with the reins of power for decades to come. Judging from your schemes, you are likely a high-ranking military officer. Why not join me in serving the Ninth Prince? A ladder to advancement will surely be laid before you; being ennobled, becoming a high-ranking official, will be a piece of cake! Why risk your life here with me?!”

These words naturally reached Teng Yue’s ears.

But Teng Yue, in the shadows, watched him from afar and laughed.

“Old habits die hard,” Teng Yue thought, “and Shi Zeyou has not changed a bit in all these years!”

“Since that’s the case, Teng Yue had no more reservations. He also covered his face with a black cloth and rode straight towards Shi Zeyou.”

Shi Zeyou, hearing his words, hesitated for a moment without a response.

Before he knew it, someone galloped straight at him.

Through the rain, he saw a tall, imposing figure, a longbow drawn, and three arrows fired simultaneously, aimed directly at him!

Shi Zeyou’s heart clenched. He quickly dodged to the side, his longsword deflecting two arrows, but he had no time to block the last one, which pierced his shoulder.

Even though he wore soft armor underneath, the arrow’s force was astonishing, drawing blood from his shoulder.

The pain sent shivers down Shi Zeyou’s spine. Looking at his men, he saw them all crumbling.

The men who had protected the Wu family before never displayed such ferocity. This person did not just have an imposing aura; he clearly had murderous intent!

Shi Zeyou did not know who the newcomer was, but it was too late to say anything. Under that murderous intent, he suddenly made a decision.

“Retreat! Protect me as I retreat!”

At this moment, wealth and glory were no match for survival!

Teng Yue had not expected this man to retreat so swiftly.

He had barely leaped to the front lines when Shi Zeyou sensed his killing intent and shouted for a retreat.

Such a change of heart would not happen so quickly to anyone else, but for a villain like Shi Zeyou, it was hardly surprising.

Teng Yue almost laughed, but how could he let this man escape like this?

He immediately ordered his men to give chase, while he himself spurred his horse forward relentlessly.

Shi Zeyou was even more astonished that even though he fled so swiftly, he was still being pursued.

Then two more arrows pierced the air. Had Shi Zeyou not been seasoned in the army for many years, he probably would not have been able to dodge their power.

But his warhorse was struck hard by one of the arrows.

Shi Zeyou swayed, realizing that if he fell from his horse, he would surely die. He grabbed a nearby guard, instantly switched horses, and pushed the guard off the horse. He then nocked an arrow and fired at Teng Yue.

Teng Yue slightly dodged, leading his steed to the side.

The group had already reached the main street. Although the streets were sparsely populated, there were still some early risers going out to do business.

Seeing someone riding a horse and shooting arrows in the street, everyone cried out in alarm.

Shi Zeyou did not care about the people on the street; he only cared about escaping, charging recklessly towards the city gate.

Teng Yue, however, had some reservations. When he reached the city gate, he saw Shi Zeyou and his men meeting at the gate and rushing out.

Teng Yue knew he could not catch up now; the sky was growing brighter, and continuing the pursuit would inevitably expose him to Shi Zeyou.

Fiery with resentment, knowing he could no longer pursue, he still nocked another arrow on his longbow and fired it with a gust of wind and rain towards Shi Zeyou’s back.

The arrow flew swiftly through the rain.

Shi Zeyou, who had just leaped to the city gate, had only felt the sound of pursuit behind him lessen, but suddenly heard the sound of an arrow piercing the air again.

At this sound, cold sweat broke out all over his body.

He instinctively tried to dodge, but it was too late; he only managed to turn half his body to the side before the arrow pierced through his shoulder.

Shi Zeyou almost fell from his horse.

“General!” someone called out urgently.

Amidst the excruciating pain, he regained some of his senses.

Although he did not completely dodge, he avoided vital organs. As long as he could hold on and not fall from his horse, he could still survive!

Shi Zeyou gritted his teeth and persevered, no longer caring about the Wu family, and ran out of the city.

Inside the city, Teng Yue threw his longbow.

When Shen Xiu caught it, he saw only disappointment in Teng Yue’s eyes.

But Shi Zeyou was not someone to be killed easily. If he were, given the people he had persecuted over the years, he would have died countless times already.

Shen Xiu quickly said to Teng Yue, “General, do not pursue him any further. There are still Shi Zeyou’s remaining troops lurking in the city. We must proceed with caution!”

Teng Yue, of course, understood the gravity of the situation. With a grim face, he abandoned his horse, changed his clothes, and first asked if Old General Wu and his wife had been safely escorted out. After receiving a positive answer, he asked another question.

“How are the two young masters and the Madam in the north of the city?”

*

North of the city. Deng Ruyun first revealed herself as planned, leading several men to chase after her, but they were all subdued by Teng Yue’s guards, who were lying in wait nearby. Deng Ruyun was unharmed and even had her men engage several of Shi Zeyou’s soldiers.

But then, she suddenly noticed someone secretly peeking in from a dilapidated courtyard gate.

The man was clearly short, about the same height as her. Deng Ruyun’s heart skipped a beat, and she quickly spoke a few words to the guard beside her.

The guard immediately sprang into action, rushing towards the dilapidated door.

But to her surprise, when they pushed open the door, there was no one inside.

Deng Ruyun had clearly seen someone through the crack in the door, and seeing no one there, a glimmer of hope rose in her heart.

She spoke directly: “We’ve come to rescue you; we’ve come to find you for General Wu! Do not be afraid; come out!”

But even she herself found this hard to believe. Then a guard whispered in her ear, “Madam, there’s a dog hole!”

The dog hole was not small; although an adult man could not climb through, someone of Deng Ruyun’s size could squeeze through.

She did not climb through but pretended not to find anyone and retreated, turning and going to another courtyard connected by the dog hole.

The house was still inhabited, but one courtyard was quite deserted.

Deng Ruyun quickly ordered her men to climb over the wall to investigate.

Unexpectedly, as the two guards climbed over, someone appeared behind them, a hidden dart strapped to his wrist, aiming at Deng Ruyun.

“Do not move! Who are you people?” He looked Deng Ruyun up and down. “Are you still impersonating me?”

Deng Ruyun and the Teng family guards had never met the two Wu family boys before, and she had not expected to encounter them here so coincidentally.

She could not explain herself, so she could only say, “We really came to rescue you and your brother,” she said, noticing the boy’s numerous wounds. “I have some medicine on me; do you want some?”

She took out a packet of medicine from her sleeve.

But her movement startled the boy, and the hidden dart shot towards her.

Quickly, a throwing knife appeared in mid-air, deflecting the hidden dart.

Deng Ruyun gasped, turning to see that it was Shen Xiu who had saved her. Beside Shen Xiu, someone pulled her close—it was Teng Yue.

Seeing his changed expression, Deng Ruyun quickly assured him she was alright and pointed to the child.

“This is probably the Wu family’s young master!”

Teng Yue looked and saw a boy of about eleven or twelve years old, covered in wounds; even his face was bruised. However, the boy’s hidden weapon was incredibly skillful. Seeing that he was in danger, he subtly moved the hidden weapon, drawing a dagger directly from it.

The skill with which he used the hidden weapon would probably make Teng Xiao’s eyes light up.

Such a fine hidden weapon—who else could it be but the Wu family’s child?

Teng Yue immediately sent someone to fetch Zhang Ying.

Zhang Ying happened to be nearby. He rushed over, saw the boy at a glance, and excitedly rushed forward.

“Sheng’er!”

He scooped the boy into his arms, repeatedly saying, “It’s alright, it’s alright,” and then added, “General Teng and his wife came to rescue us. The pursuers have been driven away by General Teng!”

Wu Sheng’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Really? Really?!”

Teng Yue stepped forward. “It’s true. Do not worry. Once we are properly inside Shaanxi, I will find a place to protect you.”

He looked down at the boy and saw tears welling up in his eyes. The boy was about to bow deeply in gratitude when Teng Yue quickly stopped him, asking only, “No need for thanks yet. Tell me first, where’s your brother?”

Teng Yue had not mentioned him before, and no one had thought of him yet. Now that he asked, everyone looked at Wu Sheng.

The two brothers had always been together, but now only one was there; the other could not be…

Wu Sheng said, “My brother’s leg is cut, and he cannot walk easily. He’s in someone’s courtyard nearby. I will take you there!”

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, but Deng Ruyun noticed Teng Yue still frowning and asked Wu Sheng again.

“How badly is your brother injured?”

Wu Sheng quickly replied that he was alright, “The bleeding has stopped; he should be fine.”

Upon hearing this, Deng Ruyun saw Teng Yue’s expression soften slightly, but without any hesitation, he let Wu Sheng lead them there.

The two were hiding in a rather secluded spot, winding their way in several times.

Wu Sheng entered the courtyard and ran towards a nearly collapsed woodshed.

“Brother, brother, I am back! Someone came to rescue us! We are alright!”

He ran quickly towards the woodshed, calling out as he ran. There was no response from inside. Wu Sheng pushed open the door and called out “Brother” again, but still no reply. His expression suddenly changed.

Deng Ruyun saw Teng Yue’s expression change as well. Before Zhang Ying could step forward, he strode ahead.

Teng Yue followed Wu Sheng quickly into the woodshed. Inside, he saw a boy of about thirteen or fourteen leaning against a haystack. The haystack was no longer there; he had fallen to one side, blood flowing from his trousers. He was silent and unresponsive.

Teng Yue’s legs froze, as if the blood in his body had stopped flowing for a moment.

Wu Sheng cried out in alarm, “Brother—”

This cry instantly snapped Teng Yue back to reality. He abruptly pushed Wu Sheng aside and rushed to the boy’s feet.

The blood flowing from the boy’s leg was a deep, almost black, color in the woodshed, yet it stung Teng Yue’s eyes, causing them to tremble uncontrollably.

He frantically patted the boy’s body, “Wake up, wake up!”

But the boy did not move at all, lying there as if he were already cold.

Deng Ruyun and Zhang Ying both rushed into the woodshed.

But for some reason, like Wu Sheng, neither of them could get close to the boy. Only Teng Yue knelt on the ground, pulled the boy into his arms, and repeatedly patted him.

“Wake up! It’s alright; no one’s chasing us anymore. Wake up!”

He seemed possessed, constantly patting the boy in the dim woodshed but not checking his breathing, just calling out to him as if he could wake him up!

Zhang Ying was stunned, and Deng Ruyun was also taken aback. Suddenly, she remembered Teng Yue’s deceased elder brother, who seemed to have died at the same age.

Deng Ruyun snapped back to reality and rushed forward.

“General, let me see how he is! No response does not necessarily mean something’s wrong; perhaps he’s just unconscious!”

But as she spoke, Teng Yue seemed not to hear her. His hand, which was patting the boy, trembled, and he even gripped the boy’s arm tightly.

Teng Yue only stared at the boy’s pale face and tightly closed eyes. No matter how much he called, he remained unresponsive, lying there coldly, impossible to rouse.

A dull ache gripped his chest, and he could not help but call out.

“Brother……Brother…”

Just then, a voice suddenly landed in his ear.

“Teng Yue!”

Teng Yue turned around abruptly and saw Yunniang’s face.

“Yunniang… I… he…”

Deng Ruyun grabbed Teng Yue’s arm and pulled him away. “He might not be seriously injured. Let me check on him first!”

These words instantly snapped Teng Yue back to reality.

He stepped back, and Deng Ruyun stepped forward, taking the boy’s pulse with one hand and checking his breath with the other.

“He’s just fainted from blood loss; he’s not beyond saving.”

She took out a bottle of medicine from her embroidered pouch, uncorked it, and poured it into the boy’s mouth.

Zhang Ying helped her, and after she had finished the entire bottle of medicine, Deng Ruyun touched the boy’s body.

“Is the wound on his calf?”

His younger brother, Wu Sheng, immediately said yes, “But has the wound not stopped bleeding?”

Deng Ruyun looked and saw that the bleeding had indeed stopped, but on the boy’s thigh, there was a deep wound, the sticky blood still wet beneath. Wu Sheng gasped. “Brother, why is there still an injury here? But he said he was fine. Before I left, he said he was alright and told me not to worry about him but to find Grandfather…”

Wu Sheng’s voice choked as she spoke, and Deng Ruyun’s nose stung with tears.

Upon hearing this, Teng Yue clenched his fists, making a cracking sound.

“I should go kill Shi Zeyou, kill these culprits…”

His teeth clenched. Seeing that he seemed about to get up, Deng Ruyun quickly called to him.

“Wu Ce can still be saved. You should go find a physician for him first!”

This call brought Teng Yue back to reality. “Yes, yes,” he said repeatedly, then called to Shen Xiu to get up, and the two headed straight for the city.

Today, the sun seemed not to have risen in Huayin County; everything was dim and gloomy, with only the rain shrouding the entire city.

Teng Yue hurriedly left and returned, bringing back an old physician. He checked the boy’s breath and pulse, and after hearing from Deng Ruyun that the boy had been given medicine, he exclaimed, “There’s hope!” He first cleaned the boy’s wounds and then began acupuncture.

The old physician, not wanting to be disturbed, led everyone out of the room, leaving only Zhang Ying inside.

But as Deng Ruyun called for Teng Yue to leave, she only found the man’s feet seemingly rooted to the spot. It took several pulls to finally get him out the door.

The rain poured down in the courtyard. She and he stood under the eaves, their eyes seeing only the dilapidated courtyard and the rain, like scattered silver needles piercing the earth.

Deng Ruyun was still holding onto his sleeve, but at that moment, he turned and grasped her hand.

“I am sorry, Yunniang, I lost my composure.”

His hand was firm, yet trembling slightly.

Deng Ruyun, recalling his earlier appearance, could not help but squeeze his hand back.

“…Were you thinking of your elder brother?”

She only uttered these words when tears suddenly welled up in the man’s eyes, falling with a soft thud onto the rain-soaked ground.

Teng Yue closed his eyes tightly.

He said yes, his voice hoarse, almost inaudible.

“My brother died at this age. It was near dawn that day, and torrential rain was pouring down. We stole a map from the Yishan Baihu Office for Father, intending to rescue the Teng family army trapped there. But my brother was seriously wounded while being chased, and that’s the day he…passed away.”

“That was when Shi Zeyou was still powerful in the army, and Father was suffocated by his influence. He constantly sought opportunities to make things difficult for Father, wishing that Father would die on the battlefield at any moment. That year, my father was sent by him to Yishan to find the Tartars hiding there. The terrain there was treacherous; shortly after my father’s troops set out, one of them became trapped. My father dared not withdraw, fearing a Tartar counterattack. He sent someone to the Yishan Baihu Office to obtain a map of the terrain from the commander. Only with the most detailed map could he find a chance to escape.”

“However, the commander knew my father had offended Shi Zeyou and only gave him a simplified map. My father repeatedly sent troops to obtain a detailed map, but to no avail. Finally, in desperation, he sent someone to fetch his brothers from home, along with money, to borrow the map from the commander.”

“Coincidentally, my mother was not home at the time…”

Teng Qi, upon hearing the news, wanted to go alone with the money, while Teng Yue, always inseparable from his brother, refused to let his brother go alone and came along as well.

Unexpectedly, after the money was delivered, the commander refused to produce the map, only repeatedly ordering the brothers around.

Teng Yue ran errands twice but refused to run anymore, saying to his brother, “Brother, that Baihu Commander is clearly just trying to fool us!”

But his brother just chuckled, “Let him fool us, as long as we get the map.”

“But he’s only fooling us brothers; he does not seem to want to give us the map at all!”

His brother chuckled again, noticing the rain mixed with sweat had dampened the stray hairs on Teng Yue’s forehead, and wiped them with his sleeve.

“Do not worry, Yue; let him fool us. After a few more runs, I will know the roads in his camp and tents all too well, and I will even see where the Baihu Commander keeps the map.”

As he spoke, his brother pinched Teng Yue’s cheek and chuckled.

“Do you think I can sneak into his tent tonight and steal that map for Father?”

Upon hearing this, little Teng Yue’s eyes widened.

“Brother, you are so clever! You will definitely be a great general someday!”

At that moment, he saw his older brother, Teng Qi, laugh. He said, “I understand your words. I will definitely be a great general someday, leading thousands of troops!”

Teng Yue laughed along behind him and could not help but ask hopefully, “When can I be like you, brother?”

His brother immediately patted his shoulder. “Soon, soon. Wait until you eat a few more bowls of rice and grow a little bigger.”

The two brothers laughed and continued running errands for the Baihu Commander.

This went on until nightfall. Teng Yue was panting heavily, and his brother was covered in sweat. The Baihu Commander, having taken their money, was only drinking and eating meat in his tent, even having women entertain him, having long forgotten about the brothers borrowing the map.

Teng Yue’s fists clenched until they were numb, but his brother showed no sign of worry.

“Let him drink; the more the better.”

His brother found a tent where provisions were stored, led him inside, and somehow managed to get him two flatbreads. The brothers huddled together in the tent, munching on the flatbreads, watching the rain pour down, dripping from the tent flaps and extinguishing the few uncovered torches until not a spark remained.

As night deepened, it became increasingly dark, the rain drawing out the chill from the ground.

The night was terribly cold, so his brother gathered some firewood and made a makeshift shelter for him to sleep in.

“And what about you, brother?” Teng Yue asked.

The elder brother said the Baihu Commander was almost drunk. “Once he starts snoring, I will steal the map, and then we will run away on horseback.”

Teng Yue, hearing this, could not sleep. He just said to him, “Brother, at a time like this, I will not leave you!”

The elder brother had no choice but to agree.

The two brothers huddled together in the rain-soaked tent, neither willing to sleep, their eyes fixed on the brightly lit Baihu Commander’s tent.

Teng Yue did not know how much time had passed; it seemed he had dozed off against his brother’s shoulder when his brother suddenly spoke.

“The people and wine in that Baihu Commander’s tent have all been removed, and the lights are out. He must be asleep!”

After saying this, the two left their straw tent, bypassed the patrolling soldiers, and crept through the rain-soaked mud towards the Baihu Commander’s tent.

Everything went smoothly, just as the elder brother had predicted.

He had already memorized the entire route by the repeated errand runs of the Baihu Commander, and he knew exactly where the map was kept in the Baihu Commander’s tent.

Teng Yue kept watch outside as his brother slipped inside while the guards at the gate chatted and took shelter from the rain.

His heart leaped with his brother’s, but his brother emerged a few moments later with the map!

Teng Yue almost cheered, but he dared not utter a sound.

The guards at the gate had not noticed them, and he quickly went with his brother.

The two brothers, having stolen the map for their father, were overjoyed. Ignoring the heavy rain, they grabbed their horses and galloped out of the Baihu Commander’s garrison.

The people at the garrison gate, knowing the brothers were looking for the Baihu Commander, did not stop them but merely gave them a second look.

However, just as they spurred their horses out, the Baihu Commander suddenly awoke. Seeing the brothers galloping away, he realized the map was lost.

This Baihu Commander, eager to curry favor with the powerful Shi Zeyou, knew Shi Zeyou intended to kill their father. With the Teng family army already trapped deep in the mountains, if the map were obtained, the Teng family army would surely escape. How could he, as the Baihu Commander, explain himself to Shi Zeyou then?

The Baihu Commander immediately called for reinforcements, and his horses spurred their horses after the brothers.

The rainy night made the roads slippery and difficult to traverse. The brothers’ horses were still young; how could they compare to the warhorses in the Baihu Commander’s camp?

The clatter of hooves behind them thundered like drums in the rainy night, sending chills down their spines.

But the pursuers were getting closer and closer. The elder brother, realizing this would not work, suddenly threw the map to him.

“I will distract them; you quickly get this map to Father!”

“Brother!”

Before Teng Yue could call out to him, he had already spurred his horse and galloped off in the opposite direction.

Teng Yue had grown up with his brother, practicing horse stance, driving stakes together, and drawing his bow together. His brother had always been by his side; from birth until now, he was used to his brother’s constant presence.

Now that his brother had suddenly left, he panicked and instinctively wanted to follow.

But his brother seemed to have anticipated his thoughts and called out to him.

“Go quickly. Father and the Teng family army are waiting for you! Yue, you can handle things on your own without me!”

These two shouts roused Teng Yue from the waist down. He hugged the map tightly, gripped the reins, and shouted, “Alright!” before braving the rain to deliver it into the mountains.

The Baihu Commander’s men did not catch up immediately, and he rode off at breakneck speed. By the time he saw his father, Cangju’s legs were practically giving way.

His father patted him on the shoulder repeatedly, praising him, and without a second thought, took the map and headed into the mountains to rescue the people.

But Teng Yue was thinking of his brother. He grabbed Cangju and ran back.

He figured his brother did not have the map, so the Baihu Commander would not harm him. He needed to go back now and tell his brother that he had delivered the map.

The brothers had done their father’s mission this time!

He rode Cangju back, filled with joy.

He galloped wildly through the wilderness in the rain, shouting through the woods, racing against the torrential downpour.

“Brother! Brother, I am back! Teng Yue can stand on his own now! We can go home!”

Little Teng Yue shouted excitedly, his voice echoing through the vast, deserted mountains and fields, the only sound being the pouring rain.

But no matter how loudly he shouted, there was no reply from the mountains and fields.

A growing unease began to creep into his heart. His clothes were already soaked through, but he did not care. He wiped the rain from his face and urged his horse to search back and forth.

He even searched in the direction of the Baihu Commander’s garrison, only to bump into the Baihu Commander, who squinted at him and said, “You Teng brothers really do not even care about your lives.”

After saying this, he turned and left.

But Teng Yue froze. What did those words mean?

His unease grew stronger. He rode his steed everywhere, searching. His brother was missing, and his brother’s mount was also the steed’s own brother.

He searched tirelessly through the ghostly forests.

“Brother, brother?!”

The steed neighed incessantly.

Just as he passed a hillside, the steed suddenly slipped. He quickly grabbed the steed and pulled it back, but then his gaze swept across the rocks below the hillside.

One glance, and he froze…

Under the dilapidated eaves of Huayin County, rain soaked half of the man’s arm, and his eyes, as if filled with rain, misted over.

Deng Ruyun heard him say in a trembling voice.

“The rocks were covered in blood. My elder brother fell from his horse down this slope, landing on the rocks. By the time I found him, he had bled to death.”

His elder brother, the brother who had raised him since childhood, had lost his life, pursued by these sycophantic people, before he could grow into a fully-fledged general leading troops.

At that moment, the rain continued to wash over his brother’s young body, washing away all his blood.

Teng Yue practically jumped off the slope. He knelt frantically on the rocks, grabbing his brother’s arm and patting him, calling out incessantly.

“Brother, brother, wake up, brother!”

But his elder brother never woke up again.

Only his last words to Teng Yue echoed repeatedly in her ears.

“Ah Yue, you can stand on your own without me!”