Old Tang was somewhat surprised.
He hadn’t expected Ye Qiu to request Ye Wudi.
Ye Qiu explained, “Ye Wudi is an exceptional expert. This mission to rescue Xiao Jiu is highly dangerous, and I’d like to request his assistance.”
In front of Old Tang, Ye Qiu refrained from mentioning that Ye Wudi was his third uncle.
“Very well,” Old Tang agreed immediately, instructing Ye Wudi, “You will assist Ye Qiu in rescuing Xiao Jiu. For this mission, Ye Qiu is in charge, and you will support him.”
“Yes, sir!” Ye Wudi responded loudly.
Old Tang then asked, “Ye Qiu, do you have any other requests?”
Ye Qiu shook his head, “None.”
Old Tang said, “Ye Qiu, you understand Xiao Jiu’s importance to the Northern Border.”
“You must bring him back.”
“There’s no time to waste. Begin the operation!”
At Old Tang’s command, Ye Qiu and Ye Wudi prepared to move.
“Tang Fei, Adjutant Wei, escort Ye Qiu to the border,” the War God ordered, then added kindly, “Ye Qiu, Wudi, be extremely careful on this mission.”
“Understood.”
Ye Qiu and Ye Wudi acknowledged and headed out of the conference room.
Just then, the War God began coughing violently, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
Ye Qiu paused and asked urgently, “Sir, what’s wrong?”
The War God replied, “Just a minor health issue recently. It’s nothing.”
“Sir, let me take a look!” Ye Qiu said, stepping toward the War God.
“No need!” The War God raised a hand to stop him, saying, “Rescuing Xiao Jiu is the priority. The Northern Border cannot descend into chaos. If I, an old man, delay this critical matter, my fault would be grave.”
Ye Qiu thought for a moment and said, “Then I’ll treat you when I return.”
“Alright.” A smile appeared on the War God’s face.
Ye Qiu and the others quickly left the conference room.
…
Three in the morning.
Snow fell heavily.
Beigu Pavilion, Martyrs’ Cemetery.
A military jeep slowly stopped at the cemetery’s entrance.
Ye Qiu and Ye Wudi got out, scanning the area. They saw several hundred soldiers stationed at the entrance, fully armed, standing ready under bright lights.
“Since yesterday’s incident, I’ve had the cemetery sealed off,” Wei Lingxin said.
“Let’s go inside,” Ye Qiu said, striding toward the cemetery.
Ye Wudi, Tang Fei, and Wei Lingxin followed.
Stepping through the gate, they were greeted by a wide bluestone staircase flanked by tall, straight pines and cypresses, standing like towering soldiers guarding the sacred cemetery.
But now, the steps were stained with blood.
At the top of the staircase lay a plaza, where a massive white marble relief stood, depicting nearly a hundred faces, each with distinct expressions.
“These are the reconnaissance company soldiers who died in the Battle of Beigu Pavilion,” Wei Lingxin explained.
Even without his words, Ye Qiu could have guessed.
Beside the relief stood a stone stele, inscribed with a couplet at the top:
“Green mountains and clear waters forever hold their noble spirit; verdant pines and cypresses console their heroic souls.”
In the bottom left corner, smaller text read:
“Erected by Xiao Jiu in tears, on the twenty-seventh day of the seventh lunar month.”
Wei Lingxin elaborated, “After the Marquis was named Champion Marquis and took command of the Northern Border, he had his brothers’ remains interred here. This stele was personally erected by him.”
“There are nearly a hundred gravestones behind, all set up by the Marquis as well.”
Hearing this, Ye Qiu moved to the back of the plaza, where his eyes flared with anger.
Nearly half of the hundred gravestones had been destroyed.
“Was this done by the assassins?” Ye Qiu asked.
“Yes,” Wei Lingxin confirmed. “It was because the assassins damaged the gravestones that the Marquis, in a fit of rage, turned back to fight them.”
Ye Wudi said angrily, “No wonder Xiao Jiu was furious. If someone desecrated my brothers’ graves, I wouldn’t let them off either.”
Ye Qiu asked, “Where are the assassins’ bodies?”
His primary reason for coming was to examine them.
“Over there. Follow me,” Wei Lingxin said, leading them to the side of the cemetery.
Several tents stood there, guarded by soldiers.
“The assassins’ bodies are inside,” Wei Lingxin said, entering the first tent.
The others followed.
Ye Qiu was startled upon entering. At least sixty or seventy bodies were laid out inside.
He exchanged a glance with Ye Wudi, and they began inspecting the corpses.
Five minutes later, they stopped.
“Most of these were killed with a single strike,” Ye Wudi observed.
Ye Qiu said with concern, “I noticed some of these assassins had calloused hands, clearly experts with firearms. Even the weakest among them was comparable to a special forces king.”
“As Adjutant Wei said, many were as skilled as Dragon List experts.”
“For Xiao Jiu to face so many elite assassins, even as the top-ranked Dragon List expert, he might not have held up.”
Ye Wudi said gravely, “So the most urgent task now is to find Xiao Jiu.”
Ye Qiu nodded and said to Wei Lingxin, “Take us to the border.”
“Alright.”
They left the cemetery and drove ten miles to the border.
“We’re here,” Wei Lingxin said, stopping the vehicle.
Ye Qiu looked ahead at the towering, snow-covered mountains stretching endlessly.
“This is as far as I can take you,” Wei Lingxin said.
“Go back. We’ll handle the rest,” Ye Qiu said, getting out with Ye Wudi.
Wei Lingxin and Tang Fei followed.
“Be careful. The border line is ahead, and the neighbouring country has troops stationed there,” Wei Lingxin warned.
“Got it,” Ye Qiu replied, turning to proceed.
“Wait—” Wei Lingxin called out, then bowed deeply to Ye Qiu and Ye Wudi. “The Marquis is in your hands.”
“We’ll do our utmost,” Ye Qiu assured him.
Tang Fei pulled Ye Qiu aside and whispered, “The War God asked me to pass on a few words.”
“He said those who dared to ambush Xiao Jiu must be well-prepared. You must be extremely cautious on this mission.”
“He also specifically told me to tell you to do your best to rescue Xiao Jiu.”
“But if necessary, you can abandon Xiao Jiu to preserve your own life.”
Ye Qiu nodded, “Understood. By the way, Old Tang, what’s going on with the War God’s health?”
Tang Fei replied, “I’m not entirely sure, but lately, he’s been coughing up blood frequently. I’ve urged him several times to get a hospital check-up, but he refuses.”
Ye Qiu said, “Take care of him. I’ll treat him when I return.”
“Alright. Be careful.”
“Mm.”
Ye Qiu gave a nod, then strode forward with Ye Wudi. Soon, their figures vanished into the snowstorm.
