Chapter 140

As night fell, Yang Yaozong led Yin Ruyun toward the summit of the stronghold.

Yang Yaozong knew how much the elderly, women, and children on the mountaintop meant to Liao Qiniang. Furthermore, Liao Qiniang’s father, uncle, and brother were all there. He hoped that by persuading the vulnerable residents to accept the government’s offer of amnesty, he could then convince Liao Qiniang more easily.

On the way, Yin Ruyun complained that Yang Yaozong was moving too slowly and stumbling frequently, so she offered to carry him on her back. She was met with a rather ungrateful roll of his eyes. Resigned, Yin Ruyun trailed behind him, slowly climbing toward the summit, only reaching out to steady him whenever he was about to trip.

Yang Yaozong sighed inwardly, feeling that in the presence of women like Jing Yijun and Yin Ruyun, he was as weak as a man who could not even truss a chicken. The only place he could reclaim his dignity was perhaps in the bedroom.

Near the steepest part of the climb, Yang Yaozong discovered a crowd gathered. Listening to their chatter, he realized they were bandits from the camp below, and that they had Liao Qiniang besieged on the summit.

Although he did not know what had happened at the base camp or why the bandits were besieging their own leader, he believed that once he reached the top and saw Liao Qiniang, everything would become clear.

"Let’s wait until they are asleep before we go up," Yang Yaozong whispered to Yin Ruyun. "The path ahead is the steepest section; be careful."

Yin Ruyun’s eyesight was far superior to his; she could see everything on the summit clearly. After observing for a moment, she said, "I’ll carry you up." Before he could argue, she pressed a finger to an acupuncture point on his elbow and hoisted him onto her back.

Yin Ruyun traversed through the dense forest to a spot that was unguarded. Yang Yaozong looked up and realized why: it wasn't a path at all, but a cliff face steeper than a vertical slope—one that leaned inward, meaning anyone climbing it would have to hang in mid-air. Yet, Yin Ruyun seemed unbothered. "Hold on tight!" she whispered firmly.

Yang Yaozong clung to her like an octopus. Yin Ruyun, already embarrassed by her own command, felt his tight grip and became even more flustered. Her heart pounded, and her legs felt weak. After a long moment of steadying herself, she gathered her internal energy and leaped.

Yin Ruyun carried him up the cliff, her feet tapping lightly against the sheer rock face before she made a final, powerful bound that vaulted them both onto the summit, landing gracefully.

Yang Yaozong climbed down, sighing, "You really make me feel useless."

"You are meant for using your brain, not your muscles," she retorted.

Yang Yaozong sighed, then stared at her with a mischievous smile. "Then from now on, you handle the physical labor and I’ll handle the commanding, deal?"

Recalling what had transpired in the cellar, Yin Ruyun glared at him with a mix of shame and annoyance, though she knew she had no way to deal with him.

***

Returning to the small village on the summit, Yang Yaozong navigated the familiar path to the residence of Liao Qiniang’s father. Just as he was about to knock, he heard voices arguing inside.

"Your father will not allow you to go down from the summit!" It was clearly Liao Dingyuan’s voice.

"The brothers down the mountain are my brothers, too," Liao Qiniang said, her voice trembling with emotion. "I believe if I go down, they will still listen to me. After tomorrow, there won't even be enough rice to make porridge. In this cold, how are the elderly and children supposed to survive?"

"Bah! Brothers?" Han Xiong shouted indignantly. "What kind of brothers besiege us here? We wouldn't complain if it were the government coming to suppress us, but this? I agree with Elder Liao—you absolutely cannot go down alone."

"Qiniang," her second uncle added, "this division in the camp isn't because of you; it’s because of us old men. You cannot solve this alone. Listen to your father. Last night, your father, your uncle Chen, and I agreed. We will go down to negotiate with the Prefect of Jining, Gu Youning. We will try to get him to release you and the others. We are old men with one foot in the grave anyway; it makes no difference."

"Uncle!" Liao Qiniang cried. "You don't understand. Gu Youning and the second-in-command aren't fools. What do you have to negotiate with?"

"You know they aren't fools, yet you think going down alone will work?" Liao Dingyuan roared.

"If I have to, I’ll kill that corrupt official even if it costs me my life!" she vowed.

"If you're going, I'm going too!" Han Xiong declared. "I'd rather die fighting than starve up here!"

"Enough talk of dying!" her brother yelled. "Han Xiong, I told you to help me talk her out of it, not join her suicide mission!"

"Qiniang," Chen Guanghan said, "your father and uncle are right. You already sacrificed your happiness for the people here. We cannot let you sacrifice your life. Even if you did, it wouldn't solve anything."

"Qiniang, where are you going? Do I have no say in this anymore?" Liao Dingyuan shouted in frustration.

"I’m going out for some air!"

As Yang Yaozong reached out to knock, the door swung open, and Liao Qiniang stood there, brow furrowed. She froze the moment she saw him. Her expression shifted from fury to shock. "You! Yang Guo!"

Yang Yaozong nodded, smiled, and walked into the room. "It is I. I’ve been standing outside for a while, not wanting to interrupt. I wasn't eavesdropping, I promise. My son is hungry, and it's cold outside—the milk is almost frozen, and I was hoping to use your hearth to warm it."

Yin Ruyun, wearing a bamboo hat, followed him inside.

Han Xiong recognized him and cheered, grabbing him in a hug. "You didn't die! You're married? And have a son? Great—Great Leader!"

Han Xiong stopped, seeing Liao Qiniang press her sword against Yang Yaozong’s neck, staring at him intensely.