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In the snow-capped Songsen mountains, getting the army to surround a well-hidden famous general was an impossibly difficult thing to do.

It was difficult to capture a person like Chu Beijie and even harder to find a good chance.

Not to mention...

"What use is it even if the army is mobilised and kill Chu Beijie in one fell swoop?" Gui Changqing smiled bitterly as he shook his head, reluctantly letting go of this enticing idea. "If the news were to spread, the withdrawing Dong Lin army will immediately rush forwards. This time, they will undoubtedly battle until the very last soldier stands."

This peace they had worked so hard on would be destroyed in a single moment.

This was something that Gui Changqing did not want to see at all.

The messenger had long heard of Chu Beijie's fame and understood that Gui Changqing's words were correct. He couldn't continue to be bold and knelt down. "Messenger will leave the capital tonight. Does Senior Official have any other instructions?"

"Pass this message onto General Chang. Two things. One, don't send any more troops to surround or attack Chu Beijie. This man is extremely aggressive and courageous. He is impossible to kill and will result in meaningless casualties amongst my Yun Chang's soldiers. Not to mention, the war has only just finished so no need to further anger an enemy general. As for the checkpoints, he is only looking for a person, not intending to harm, so there is no need for resistance. Second..." Gui Changqing hesitated for a moment, the light in his eyes flashed. He lowered his voice, "Tell all the people at the checkpoints that no matter what, they mustn't let Chu Beijie meet that woman."

"Yes."

"Remember the second in your heart."

"Yes, I understand."

Gui Changqing watched him, unsatisfied, as he began to depart. His eyes uneasily swept across his surroundings. There was an empty lake beside him, a bridge covered with snow in front where no one could hide without being noticed. Gui Changqing asked the messenger again, "Are you familiar with the Songsen Mountains?"

"I have always been stationed on the Songsen Mountains and is very familiar with the terrain shape of the Songsen Mountains."

"What is your name and what is your job title in the army?"

"Report to Senior Official. My name is Fanlu and is a Vice-General."

"I will now raise you to Valiant General."

"Eh?" Fanlu looked up, stunned. He realised from Gui Changqing's serious expression that it was not a joke. His eyes brightened as he loudly replied, "Thank you, Senior Official! I will definitely do my best to repay Senior Official."

Gui Changqing stepped down the stairs, helping him up as he whispered, "I have a third message, one only for you to hear. It shall come out of my mouth and only enter your ears."

"Yes." Fanlu sternly replied, his voice lowered as he turned his ears towards Gui Changqing.

"That woman may be around the Songsen Mountains and must never be reunited with Chu Beijie. You must find her quicker than Chu Beijie."

"Kill her?"

"No," Gui Changqing replied in a whisper, "no marks on her body that indicates a death due to humans."

The cruel light that only soldiers glinted in Fanlu's eyes. "There are wild beasts out there throughout the year. I know what to do."

"Have you seen her drawing?"

"No, the drawing has only been seen by the guards Chu Beijie grabbed. However, there are very few women who dare to walk around on the Songsen Mountains."

"Remember, she has a luminous jade hairpin on herself. That was the only ornament that never left her side since her departure from Dong Lin to Yun Chang.

Zuiju had forgotten how long she had waited in the darkness. Every minute, every second tugged at her heart. The suffering from it had already continued a few rounds in the darkness. She lightly held Pingting's wrist, refusing to let go of it. It seemed that if she did, she would forever lose Pingting's whereabouts. The air rumbled with the two's breathing.

Dear God, please protect Miss Pingting and her child through this obstacle.

She felt a wetness on her face. The tears that came down filtered into her skin.

"When will the storm be over?" Zuiju tried very hard to make those words a little calmer, without making a tearful voice.

"Perhaps it'll stop soon," Pingting replied softly.

The calmer she was, the more chaotic Zuiju's heart was. After an awkward silence, Zuiju's voice was heard again. "I really hate the Duke," she whispered.

"Zuiju."

"I hate the Duke to death, hate him." Zuiju had her teeth clenched and grinded them.

She could only blame him and could only hate him. Why, when he had such great abilities, did the woman he love suffer like this?

"It's all the Duke's fault. It's all his fault. Aren't men supposed to protect women? Should the woman they love not be protected in the palm of their hand?" The more she thought, the angrier she became. The more she spoke, the more agitated she became.

Pingting sighed once and took Zuiju's hand in hers. She stroked it, calming her down. "Zuiju, don't say any more."

"He should be here. It'd be great if he was the one here with you."

The words that should've never been said came flooding out, rapidly bringing a silence to the narrow space. Zuiju only suddenly realised that she must have been driven crazy by the darkness and the storm outside.

Chu Beijie, if Chu Beijie were here, then what was this storm? His shoulders were very broad and could shield Pingting from the harsh weather.

"Miss, I..." Zuiju secretly regretted it. "I shouldn't've mentioned him."

"You're right." Pingting sadly replied. "It would be great if he were here."

It would indeed be great if they could not be parted, even if the highest power tried to tear them apart.

The storm hid the daylight. The Songsen Mountains had become a patch of gloomy white. The wind began to howl, hitting hard against the rocky cliffs, producing a sharp whistling sound of unsatisfaction.

Chu Beijie sat in a gap between the rocks, stroking the precious sword in his hands.

He had spent almost all his life marching to war and seen storms a hundred times more terrible than this one. He had immediately secured the most sturdy cave against the storm upon entering the mountains.

The storm held no place in his heart. He silently waited for it to pass. Once the wind stopped, he would immediately go down the mountain and attempt to cross the Suyang checkpoint again.

Suyang was the weakest defended checkpoint of Yun Chang. If Pingting wanted to go to Bei Mo, she would most likely choose to cross there.

Perhaps Pingting would cross the Suyang checkpoint today.

But what if today was still without result? The depths of Chu Beijie's eyes began to dim even more.

In these past few days, he had consecutively breached four of Yun Chang's checkpoints but no one at all of them had seen Pingting before. Could it be that Pingting hadn't headed for Bei Mo?

This made him feel very worried. If she stayed in Yun Chang, then even if Princess Yaotian was willing to free Pingting, He Xia would most likely not. He Xia would send out pursuing soldiers and perhaps arrive in a day or two.

Deafening thunder came from the sky, and the blood red lightning seemed to strike Chu Beijie's heart, piercing a gaping wound in his chest that caused everything that flowed out to plummet into the endless darkness. His body felt empty, except for the anxiety and distress that filled his heart.

Pingting, where are you?

Are you and our child in the mountains, in the snowstorm, somewhere on the bumpy road?

I only want to put my arms tightly around you, my body blocking yours from the howling snow.

If you allow me to do that much, I will be the happiest man most beloved by the gods.

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