Jin qing followed Shang ye out of the tent, watching the column of dust carefully.

"The dust is wide but it isn't as tall..." Jin qing mumbled under her breath. "The Song has a large number of chariots and infantry behind them. Summon the archers-" She whirled around, looking for other signs that the Song might ambush them from. "They're coming from the west too, but the dust isn't as heavy. They're trying to break in from the east where the steepest hills are-"
Jin qing's mind raced to think about what that other man would do in this situation.
"it could be a diversion. Chariots create lots of dust... Focus the archers there! Shang ye!"

"I know!" Shang ye had already rung the alarm bells even though the men could already guess what was going on. Shouting for the archers to focus on scattering the front lines, he also commanded the soldiers to counter the attack on the west. "Jin qing, I want you to stay here-"

"And watch the camp burn to the ground?" Jin qing had already unsheathed the sword she had taken from her room and was putting on the lightest and smallest piece of armor she could find in that short time. "They're going to outnumber you. You're going to need all the help you can get as some men retreat. They have cut off the direct routes back to the nearest city, tell the men to cut back into the swamps as soon as they get the chance. Ask the men if there are any willing to fight to the death as the others retreat. I don't like this but I suspect that they greatly outnumber us."

"I could tell." Shang ye sighed "But you promise me you'll be one of the first ones to return. I don't want anything happening to you."

"Not a chance." Jin qing answered quickly. She knew that she had a slim chance of escaping anyway if that man was leading this ambush. "I'm staying with you. I'm not leaving until you are."

"Jin qing-"

"Listen. I came here because I wanted to help save as many lives as possible, and that includes you."

Shang ye noticed the change in her expression and tone and decided not to argue. "Stay close."

"Of course." Jin qing snatched up a bow and a quiver of arrows and ran to join the archers in the east. The conditions weren't right for anther attack by fire, so they'll just going to have to do this the slow way. She can hear Shang ye talking to the troops and was glad to see many hands rise up when he asked if there were any willing to fight to the death and sacrifice themselves so the others can escape.

The thought of the chance coming face to face with that man scared her.

She wasn't afraid of too many people in the living world neither did she hate too many people as much as she hated him.

Jin qing can almost hear the man's laughter echoing in her mind, the rattle and the faint sounds of iron...

She lifted up her arm along with the rest of the archers and fired their first volley of arrows at the chariots. Many of the arrows hit their mark and killed the horses pulling the chariots, causing the chariots to suddenly stop and cause havoc in the front lines. This would only slow them down a little, but already Jin qing could see many of the men retreat back into the swamps.

The swamps are usually places you want to avoid, but this is a desperate situation and anywhere would be better than the open plains.

Jin qing fired arrow after arrow until her quiver was empty and her hand sore from gripping the bow too tightly. They had managed to slow the chariots down, but the situation with the infantry left her anxious. Would they be alright?

She lowered her bow and left it on the ground, running to the other side of the camp to check on how they were doing.

Chaotic.

But who said that war would be nice and neat?

She snatched up a sword and fought her way over to Shang ye. "Has the men who hadn't volunteered retreated yet?"

"Most of them, yes!" Shang ye swung his sword over Jin qing's head and cut an arrow out of the air. "We should start going. Head toward a route that the retreating men aren't taking so the Song can't follow us."

As Shang ye shouted to his men to retreat, Jin qing stood by and ruthlessly killed anyone who dared stepping up to them.

Strange... Where was that man?

She'd think that just like last time, he'll come and find her as soon as he got the chance.

Unless this wasn't his doing? Perhaps he's still in the Song capital...

That small ray of hope was quickly extinguished once she came to the conclusion that he'll see her anyway if she was captured.

The small group of men left retreated back onto the top of the hill, completely surrounded.

Jin qing was not relieved to see that another general was leading this assault. The destination of their capture was still the same, and even worse... Shang ye was right next to her. A prince in an enemy country is not ideal.

Shang ye was forced to surrender and give themselves up to the Song freely or else all the men would have been killed on the spot.
Jin qing sighed. Would death be a better option in exchange for the guarantee that they wouldn't be tortured and interrogated?

The Song general stared at her when Jin qing answered his question on who she is, then ordered the men to take her separately onto a carriage to be taken directly to the capital.

"Jin qing-" Shang ye began to say, but Jin qing shook her head.

She knew this day would come eventually. The day when she is finally in the reaches of that man once more. "It's alright." She assured him, speaking softly as the men around them were tired up so they can make the long walk without escaping. "I'll find you in the Song capital. I'll get you out of there, don't worry."

"How can you be so confident?"

"I'm not." Jin qing admitted. "I promise. Keep your head down. I know that Song general is going to interrogate you but please don't give up-"

Someone grabbed onto her arm roughly and dragged her to a separate area, tying her hands behind her back and blindfolded her, throwing her into a wagon that was designed like a cage.

Jin qing sighed, leaning against the wood in a way that was more comfortable.
At least she didn't need to walk the whole way, that was one thing to be happy about.

She wished she had a plan. A plan to get Shang ye and his men out of the city as soon as possible. She doubted that she would be able to leave as easily as they will, so her main focus would be making sure they are alright.

Jin qing had seen Shang ye in action. He would be a great substitute for her while she possibly rotted inside the Song walls. Closing her eyes, she slowly grew accustomed to the shaking of the carriage and the pounding of the horses' hooves.

And this would be the last time she would be in the Wei while she is known as the Xue Xian.

<><><>

Jin qing must have fallen asleep. She was exhausted from missing a day of sleep and hard fighting, the stress and worry finally taking its toll on her.

The next time she opened her eyes, her carriage had suddenly stopped and she heard the shuffling of her cage being unlocked.

There was some rustling and the cloth around her eyes were taken off, and Jin qing's eyes slowly adjusted to the sunrise.

Jin qing frowned as the men made her stand up and walk. She has been asleep for that long?

She also noticed how they weren't in the wilderness anymore. judging from the stone path and the fine architecture, she was in the royal palace of the Song.

Jin qing's eyes wandered around, studying every detail, every path, and anything that might aid Shang ye and his soldiers escapes later on. She can feel the stares from the palace servants and guards on why a woman would be tied up like this.

If only they knew.

But something was wrong. Normal people wouldn't stare at her for more than a few seconds then hurry along with whatever work they had. Jin qing can feel a pair of eyes watching her as soon as she stepped off the carriage. But why can't Jin qing find whoever is staring and watching her?

She knew it wasn't that man. The feeling was different than the one that man gave off.

Climbing the tall and grand staircase all the way up to the royal hall, Jin qing began to wonder more and more on what would happen if she died right here on the spot. It was a nice topic to explore, but she knew it was unfortunately impossible.

<>

She was thrown onto the floor by the guards, her body landing on the floor with a soft thump.

Immediately, she pushed herself off the floor with her elbow and shoulder so she was in a kneeling position.

The Song emperor sat on a golden throne in front of her, who waved his hands to signal for the guards to leave.

Huh. That's strange. Unless he secretly has that man hidden somewhere behind the curtains... but why?

"Xue Xian." The Song emperor began, standing up to his feet. "I welcome you into the country of the Song."

"If this is how you welcome all your guests, I don't want to be here." Jin qing spat on the floor, glaring at the emperor.

The Song emperor ignored her comment. "I find it very pleasant to have the Wei's greatest weapon here, in my palace. I find it to be a great honor to have such a woman here."

"I'm not a weapon." Jin qing said defiantly. "I am not and I will never be one. Even though I might be considered to be a tool for the Wei, I assure you I'm not what you think I am."

"Oh? A good weapon always has a history of death and blood. Shen Feng can prove that."

The very mention of that Man's name sent shivers down Jin qing's back, but she was determined not to show how scared she felt. "His words mean nothing."

"Then what about my words?" The song Emperor asked her, lifting up her chin with a cold metal blade. "What if I told everyone that you aren't who you seem to be? What if I told everyone that I not only have the Xue xian in my palace but someone else too?"

"The prince of the Wei?"

He chuckled. "No. Not him. He is unimportant compared to the person I'm talking about."

Jin qing had a vague idea whom he was talking about just based on how intently he was staring at her, and she hated it.
This... his expression... reminded her of the time when Xi jian revealed who she was.

"Allow me to greet you again, this time by your rightful identity." The Song emperor lowered his sword. "Welcome to the country of the Song, Wu Xin. The child assassin, and the crown princess to the fallen Liang."

∠( ᐛ 」∠)＿