Was meeting him really just a coincidence?
Even if it was, does it mean anything that I met him as soon as I arrived in the capital to carry out an important mission?
Could it really be that coincidental?
Yang Lu furrowed her brow as she walked back, replaying the events that had just occurred in her mind.
Her back felt cold... the sweat had soaked through her clothes.
Yang Lu didn’t believe she was unbeatable, but this was the first time she encountered someone whose sheer presence could paralyze her. To run into such a formidable figure after casually going for a stroll... Yang Lu couldn’t convince herself that there was nothing more behind this.
Lost in thought, she soon found herself back at her temporary lodging.
Yang Lu pushed open the door, and the thick smell of traditional medicine filled the air. Baili Gucheng sat by the window, reading a book. When he saw her return, he closed the book and said, "My injury is no longer serious... Time is running out. I have to try."
"No," Yang Lu replied without even turning her head. "I know your internal injuries better than you. Only about eighty percent of your injuries have healed."
Baili Gucheng frowned. "Eighty percent... That’s enough. Besides, I know my body. I feel fully recovered."
"Who’s looking after who here? You or me?" Yang Lu raised her voice, arching an eyebrow. "If I say you're not fully healed, you're not fully healed. Besides, your injury isn’t like others. If you force it before making a full recovery, you’ll only worsen your initial wounds, undoing all the previous treatment."
"But"—Baili Gucheng clenched his fists and his jaw tightly—"we really don’t have time!"
"Even so, no." Yang Lu crossed her arms and shook her head. "If you go now the way you are, all you'll do is throw your life away."
Baili Gucheng slammed his fist on the table, glaring at Yang Lu.
"What do you know?! The Northern Qiang army could already be on its way! The people at North Watching Pass are still waiting for reinforcements from the imperial court, but no one will tell them the court has already signed away their lives!"
Baili Gucheng shot to his feet, pointing at himself.
"Even if I, Baili Gucheng, go to die, it’s just one life! But at the North Watching Pass... there are tens of thousands of people who have been condemned to die!"
At this point, Baili Gucheng’s raised hand trembled uncontrollably, as if he couldn’t bear to imagine the future of the North Watching Pass. He paused, lips quivering, then slumped into his chair.
"Now... as long as there’s even the slightest chance, I have to try... At least it’s better than sitting here every day doing nothing..."
Baili Gucheng’s outburst startled Yang Lu. She knew he couldn’t let go of North Watching Pass, but she hadn’t realized how deeply it weighed on his heart.
Yang Lu’s lips moved slightly. She pulled out a chair and sat down across from Baili Gucheng.
Baili Gucheng rested his hands on the table, his head bowed. He stared at his feet, his snow-white hair hanging messily down, obscuring his face.
Tentatively, Yang Lu reached out and placed her hand over Baili Gucheng's hand. "Bai, Baili..."
Yang Lu could feel the slight tremor in the man’s hand.
"You’re almost healed... Listen to me." Yang Lu pursed her lips. "Once you’ve fully recovered, we’ll have a better chance of success, won’t we? I’ve already been looking for the best blacksmith in the city these past few days to see if anyone can break this lock..."
"There's no need." Baili Gucheng shook his head, his white hair trembling. "They can’t open it. It’s not about the blacksmiths. It is impossible for them to melt this lock."
Yang Lu frowned in bewilderment. "Then how was it forged in the first place? How can we melt that lock?"
Baili Gucheng lifted his head and sighed deeply. "As far as I know, there are only two ways in the world to melt this lock. One is to find the master of Xuanfeng Valley to smelt it within the Qieyang Pavilion, and the other... is to find the person who made this lock."
"Where is that person?" Yang Lu’s beautiful eyes widened in urgency.
Baili Gucheng smiled bitterly. "Heh... If I knew that, would I still be sitting here?"
"What kind of ‘famed sword’ is this?!"
Baili Gucheng swept both the sword and the book from the table onto the floor.
"If it can’t be drawn, it’s just a piece of scrap metal!"
Yang Lu quickly grasped Baili Gucheng’s hand, her beautiful eyes glaring at him angrily. "Enough! Losing your temper won’t save the North Watching Pass! Calm down!"
At the mention of North Watching Pass, Baili Gucheng immediately deflated, collapsing back into the chair.
Yang Lu walked over and picked up his sword and book.
As she picked up the book, she noticed it had no title on the front or back cover, sparking her curiosity. She casually flipped through and came across a dog-eared page.
At the top of the page, only two characters were written: "Seeking Immortality."
Yang Lu gasped sharply, exclaiming, "Could this be!"
"The Concealed Sword Art."
Yang Lu turned to look. Baili Gucheng was gazing out the window, lost in thought.
"I’m planning to find another sword." Baili Gucheng lowered his eyes. "One that can be drawn."
"How could you!" Yang Lu’s eyes widened. Martial artists usually have their own personal weapons, and it’s a major taboo to use another. Their weapons are like trusted companions, and switching to another would certainly diminish their overall abilities.
"I think it’s worth a try." Baili Gucheng smiled wryly. "Besides, this is our only option, isn’t it?"
Yang Lu’s eyes gradually filled with disbelief. "You mean... that sword strike?!"
Baili Gucheng nodded. "Seeking Immortality."
Yang Lu’s lips parted slightly. "I thought you couldn’t use it?!"
Baili Gucheng frowned. "I think I can do it."
Yang Lu shook her head. "The risk is too great. It’s not worth it."
"Assassinating Qi Zongbi is risky enough as it is, so a little more won’t matter." Baili Gucheng looked at Yang Lu calmly. "For now, you just focus on healing me as quickly as possible... I’ll handle the rest."
As in previous years, the Imperial Capital had already entered the festive atmosphere of the New Year. Every household hung large red lanterns and pasted red couplets across their doors.
The men planned to use their monthly wages to buy jewelry for their wives, while the women bought fabric to make new clothes for their husbands and children. Thriving in the excitement, the children remained as carefree as ever and only grew more boisterous at this time.
But not everyone could be .
Someone in the grand imperial palace was pondering whether this war should be fought.
Someone in their study was worrying whether the war could be won.
Someone working by candlelight sought ways to save the people from inevitable disaster.
Someone sat by their window, contemplating how to kill with a sword.
Someone held a blade across their knees, silently apologizing... for revenge was inevitable.
The clouds churn, and the winds rise.