Chapter 48: From This Day, Life and Death Are Shrouded in Uncertainty

Yunmeng Lake.

The morning sun, molten gold at the horizon, poured its brilliance across the waters. A thousand rays of dawn, like threads, spread over the vast expanse, transforming the silent lake into a dazzling tapestry of crimson and gold. The surface shimmered with ripples, reflecting the glory of the skies above.

Dozens of boats, large and small, pressed onward into the depths of Yunmeng Lake, their procession grand and imposing beneath the magnificent morning light.

On the deck of a towering ship at the heart of the fleet, Shen Yanxi sat facing the sunrise, her gaze filled with hope as she looked ahead. Shu Qing and Hua Yan attended her, while Shen Yanyun sat beside her.

“Miss, shall we go inside? The wind is strong out here,” Hua Yan urged.

But Shen Yanxi paid her no heed. Instead, she turned to Pei Yunrui, who stood nearby. “Cousin, how much longer before we arrive?”

“It shouldn’t be much longer. According to the water bandit, about half an hour,” Pei Yunrui replied promptly.

The news that their destination was near made Shen Yanxi’s heart race with excitement and anxiety.

“Hua Yan, help me back to the cabin.” No matter what happened, she must meet him at her best.

Pei Yunrui sighed and glanced at Shen Yanyun. “Yun’er, what sort of spell do you think that boy has cast on Yanxi?”

“What nonsense! You know nothing of a woman’s heart,” Shen Yanyun retorted, rising to follow her sister into the cabin.

Time trudged forward, heavy with anticipation, until half an hour finally passed.

Standing at the prow, Shen Yanxi heard news arrive—they had reached the spot. Yet as she looked around at the broad expanse of the lake bordered by dense water grasses, confusion clouded her mind.

“Cousin, why has the boat stopped? Aren’t we here? Where is it?” she asked.

“Don’t worry, Yanxi. We’re not quite there. See those boats? They need to surround the bandits’ lair first. Our vessel is too large to go in,” Pei Yunrui explained.

“Then let’s switch to a smaller boat,” Shen Yanxi insisted.

“That’s not safe. We may have numbers, but desperate bandits can be dangerous. If something happens to you, what then? Once it’s secure, we’ll be informed and move ahead,” Pei Yunrui replied, unwilling to risk her safety.

Shen Yanxi said no more—she was not unreasonable. Yet the waiting was agonizingly long.

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Several small boats stealthily circled the water grasses. On the leading boat, the water bandit lay bound on the deck, while Xiao Bai anxiously watched the way ahead.

“How much farther?” a retainer kicked the bandit.

“Sir, once we pass this patch, you’ll see it.”

With a wave, the boats surged forward like arrows, bursting from the cover of reeds. Land appeared ahead, but the soldiers were struck dumb by what they saw.

“Are you sure this is the place?” The retainer grabbed the bandit, lifting him roughly.

The bandit looked ahead in bewilderment, and was stunned—the camp was gone!

Though still some distance away, the land before them lay bare. Everywhere they looked, ruined walls and broken ships floated on the water, charred wood and smoldering flames mingling, wisps of smoke rising into the dawn.

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“Sir, this is the place. It was fine just yesterday,” the bandit wailed.

Other boats arrived in succession, their crews equally shocked—no battle as expected, only devastation.

“What’s going on?” boomed a voice like a bell.

The retainer turned to see a small boat approaching from the left, a burly man with a thick beard standing atop it, nearly tipping the vessel.

“General Nanmen, it looks like there was fighting here last night. Details are unclear,” the retainer replied.

“Move in,” Nanmen Yue commanded coldly.

At his order, the boats rowed toward the land, and others, seeing the movement, followed suit, heading for the shore.

Drawing closer, the signs of battle were unmistakable—corpses of bandits scattered ashore and in the water, the blood still undispersed.

“Master!” Xiao Bai, confronted by the carnage, broke down. In one night, disaster had struck—what would happen when Miss found out?

Once the boats landed, Nanmen Yue jumped ashore, frowning at the mangled bodies and bloodstains. The bandits had suffered terribly.

Xiao Bai disembarked, wailing as he searched for his master, but found no trace despite his efforts.

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“So soon, there’s news?” Pei Yunrui watched a small boat approach, puzzled.

Shen Yanxi stood, waiting for word from the boat.

“What’s the situation?” Pei Yunrui called down as the boat neared.

“Lord Pei, we’ve found the place. But the bandits’ lair has been burned down—there was a fierce battle last night. We’re not sure what happened yet, but our men are ashore investigating.”

Hearing this, Shen Yanxi felt the world spin and nearly fainted. Shen Yanyun and the maids caught her just in time.

“Any survivors?” Pei Yunrui asked.

“None seen so far. If there are any, we’ll find them ashore. I came to report—the area is now secure.”

Shen Yanxi steadied herself, hand pressed to her forehead. I must not fall—he’s waiting for me.

“Cousin, I want to go ashore. I need to find him.”

Pei Yunrui was at a loss—who could wait calmly on the boat now?

“But…” The place must be horrific—his cousin had never seen such sights.

“I can bear it,” Shen Yanxi replied, expressionless.

Shen Yanyun frowned, but knew persuasion was futile.

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“Su Nian, protect your mistress,” Shen Yanyun said to a stern-faced, long-haired woman at her side.

After sailing a bit further, the sisters switched to a small boat and headed for the now-visible shore.

The closer they came, the heavier Shen Yanxi’s heart grew. She kept urging herself not to collapse before finding him.

But the scene grew more gruesome—corpses strewn across broken ships, some so brutally mutilated their organs spilled out.

The women were nearly faint with fright, barely holding themselves together as the horror churned their insides.

Only the cold-faced woman, Su Nian, silently supported Shen Yanxi at the prow.

For Shen Yanxi, fear and disgust were meaningless, or at least she had no time to feel them. Her mind held only one thought: to find Lu Jin. The brutality before her made her heart ache all the more.

Because she did not know if Lu Jin was among them.

When they finally landed, Nanmen Yue came to meet them.

“Miss Shen, what brings you here?” Nanmen Yue was stunned to see the sisters arrive—this place was harrowing even for him, much less for women.

“General Nanmen, have you found anyone?” Shen Yanyun asked.

Nanmen Yue was at a loss, opening his mouth but producing no sound.

Shen Yanxi’s heart plummeted.

“Master… Master…”

Pei Yunrui, just off another boat, cried in surprise, “Xiao Bai?”

Turning, he saw Shen Yanxi pushing through the crowd toward the source of the voice.

Pei Yunrui followed, panic rising. Could the boy truly be dead? Heaven itself would collapse.

Shen Yanxi stumbled into a ruined house, peering over the low wall to see Xiao Bai kneeling, wailing, before a charred corpse.

All hope, all longing, all prayers—gone. He would never return.

Shen Yanxi, held together by sheer will, could no longer endure. The world spun and faded.

“Miss, Miss…”

“Yanxi!”

Voices called her name, but collapsed in Su Nian’s arms, Shen Yanxi heard nothing anymore.