The stars were sparse in the night sky over Xin’an City, barely a handful visible. The moon offered little light.

Tonight, most families within the Zhuang Kingdom were not reunited. Within the majority of houses, doors firmly shut, loved ones were far away in the Yong territory, locked in bloody combat. They were fathers, husbands, sons.

They would not return tonight, perhaps never.

A long silence was broken only by the steady, measured tread of boots on stone brick.

The two red lanterns, symbols of festive cheer, were left far behind, stubbornly clinging to the joy this day should hold.

There were many untimely stubbornnesses, hidden in the silent houses and pavilions of the night.

“Jianqiu, how long have you been by my side?” Dong A suddenly asked.

“Since entering the National Dao Academy,” Li Jianqiu replied.

Dong A did not turn around, continuing to walk slowly forward. “You’ve been with me for so long, and I haven’t hidden much from you. With your intelligence, you should have guessed something. Correct?”

Li Jianqiu followed slowly, saying nothing.

Silence was an admission.

Dong A’s resolute face moved through the darkness, like a submerged reef in a black tide.

“Do you hate me?” he asked.

He didn’t even turn to see Li Jianqiu’s expression, for he already knew the answer.

Li Jianqiu’s steps faltered for a moment, but he continued to follow.

His steps were heavier now.

“I have,” he said.

“Have you thought about killing me?”

Dong A asked the question, then immediately shook his head, answering himself, “You cannot kill me.”

He added, “You are incapable of killing me.”

He was so certain, walking ahead with such composure, completely unconcerned about any danger from behind.

‘Cannot kill me’ and ‘incapable of killing me’ held two different meanings.

Li Jianqiu understood. He said nothing, only gripped his sword tighter.

“Because you love this nation more than your own love and hate,” Dong A sighed, for some unknown reason. “That is why I chose you.”

Li Jianqiu’s sword was named Peach Branch.

Peach blossoms bloom in spring.

Tonight was the last night of the twelfth lunar month, the depths of winter; tomorrow would be the New Year.

Was tomorrow really the New Year?

He hesitated for a moment.

Gripping Peach Branch, feeling the sword’s “breath,” he felt truly real.

The past in Maplewood City was like a nightmare, often resurfacing in the quiet of the night. He often felt he hadn’t woken up, but lived in a false illusion.

Only Peach Branch allowed him to touch reality.

“Perhaps,” Li Jianqiu said, tightly gripping Peach Branch. “Perhaps I am foolish, not knowing what is right or wrong. Perhaps my soul is not clear, only capable of being manipulated.”

His tone was sorrowful.

Dong A offered no judgment, nor did he tell him what was right or wrong, only asking, “Do you know why your teacher didn’t hide the truth from you, allowing you to know that matter?”

Li Jianqiu lowered his eyes. “I do not.”

Dong A was typically upright and honest, acting with justice and valuing his reputation. Although he had long taken him as a personal disciple, always keeping him by his side, he generally referred to himself as “this official,” never using the intimate term “teacher.”

Li Jianqiu felt somewhat uncomfortable.

Dong A continued to walk forward, just as he had been doing all these days, always working, always moving.

He followed the inherent trajectory of his life, steadfast, persistent, and self-controlled.

He said, “I do not care whether you hate me or not. When I am no longer beneficial to the nation, I would not mind if you killed me.”

“His Majesty and the National Chancellor both see Zhu Weiwo as the future, placing high hopes on him. But in my opinion, Zhu Weiwo is too self-centered; only you understand sacrifice. Sacrifice is a sacred quality, the foundation for achieving greatness.”

“Jianqiu, regarding the past, I do not agree with His Majesty and Chancellor Du’s thinking. Some things cannot be hidden. Deceit is never the best choice.”

“Perhaps I am right, perhaps I am wrong.”

“But if one day the entire Zhuang Kingdom falls into darkness, you are the spark I have preserved for this land.”

Li Jianqiu gripped his sword tightly, unsure how to respond.

Dong A did not wait for his reply, perhaps expecting one… but not waiting for long.

“I have an urgent matter to entrust to you.”

Dong A directly took out a black square token from his bosom and handed it to Li Jianqiu: “Go to the Zhuang-Mo border immediately, and give this token to the Grand Overseer hidden there. He knows what to do.”

Li Jianqiu accepted the token, not yet having fully processed the previous words.

He then heard Dong A urge, “The military situation is urgent, go quickly!”

Li Jianqiu soared into the air, turned around, and flew towards the Zhuang-Mo border, quickly disappearing into the endless night.

Dong A stood alone on the empty long street, no longer moving forward.

There was still a long road ahead, but he stopped here.

“Come out,” he said.

Dark clouds crept in, hiding the moon.

The long street grew darker.

More and more gloomy, more and more obscure.

A sword-wielding youth emerged from the corner of the street, pulling off his cloak of concealment. He stared fixedly at Dong A’s back.

“I wonder from what direction…”

Dong A turned around, and across the long street, he saw the youth’s appearance. “It’s you.”

He had long detected someone lurking, but couldn’t find where that person was.

Such an elusive opponent, if their target wasn’t him, could cause even greater destruction in Xin’an City.

That’s why he came out alone, giving the opponent a chance, to lure out the enemy hidden in the shadows.

He wanted to personally deal with the enemy, bearing the danger alone as a Vice Chancellor. Because the current Xin’an City was indeed at its most vulnerable state in history, he knew this better than anyone.

He was confident in his own strength, but also prepared for the unfortunate event of dying in battle. At this time, the people who could be the backbone of Zhuang Kingdom, apart from him, were the Grand Overseer of the Arrest and Punishment Division. Seeing that black square token, the Grand Overseer of the Arrest and Punishment Division would naturally know what to do.

Throughout this process, he gave Li Jianqiu no hints. Because once he did, Li Jianqiu would be regarded as a variable, and could very likely be killed immediately. He knew that the hidden enemy must be watching his every move closely.

He could have used Li Jianqiu to gain an advantage, but he didn’t want to do that anymore. At least, not for himself.

He thought the opponent was from the Yong Kingdom, or the Mo Kingdom, or even the Luo Kingdom, or the Clear River Water Manor; none of those were impossible.

No alliance was absolutely trustworthy.

But he truly didn’t expect it to be Jiang Wang.

Jiang Wang, the disciple he personally brought into the inner sect of Maplewood City Dao Academy.

That youth who was betrayed by his brother, and ended his grudges with a life-and-death Dao duel.

That youth who disregarded his own safety and entrusted his trust to him.

That youth who mistakenly thought he was a White Bone Dao disciple and confessed to him with red eyes…

Jiang Wang, he hadn’t died.

The night was deep, so heavy that it seemed to be tilting down.

It was as if the entire sky was pressing down on people’s hearts.

On the long street, the former teacher and disciple stood on opposite sides.

Perhaps the night was too dark, or perhaps the night was too quiet, this long street was like an abyss, swallowing all light and emotion, making the distance between the two seem so far away.

“Teacher, long time no see,” Jiang Wang said.