Isolated town in northern border region

Mo Shu didn't speak again, but when she left, her steps were slower than when she came, as if she was measuring something step by step.

The moment the door closed, Xiao Lie put down the book in his hand, looked at the closed wooden door, and said softly.

"He's getting anxious."

Bisu stood beside her, holding a bowl of medicine.

"Your Highness, why is he in such a hurry?"

Xiao Lie leaned against the headboard.

"He's running out of chips."

"Iron Bow is disobedient, and Iron Muyun is also on my side. He can't reach the Northern Frontier."

"Mo Shu only has 'Bing Yong San' left as a bargaining chip."

The next morning, Mo Shu revealed his final trump card.

Two Panlong Guards pushed open the door to Xiao Lie's thatched hut. Bi Su was changing the towel on his forehead when she saw the two men come in and instinctively stepped in front of Xiao Lie.

One of the soldiers reached out and pushed her away. The movement wasn't rough, but it was enough to make Bisu stagger.

Another soldier walked to the bedside and said to Xiao Lie.

"Your Highness, the Deputy Commander requests your presence."

The voice was completely mechanical, devoid of any human emotion.

Xiao Lie looked at them and sighed.

"They are all fine sons of my Great Chu!"

Xiao Lie slowly sat up. His meridians were still sealed, so his movements were slow. After steadying himself by holding onto the edge of the bed, he glanced at Bi Su, who had been pushed into the corner.

"Don't be afraid. I'll be right back."

Bisu bit her lip and nodded.

When Xiao Lie was taken to Mo Shu's residence, the iron bow was already there.

Mo Shu sat behind the table, a cup of steaming tea in front of him, a gentle, teacher-like smile on his face.

"Your Highness, after much thought, I still believe that we need a more solid guarantee between us."

He clapped his hands, and two soldiers pushed a man out from the back room.

Bisu was tied to a chair, a piece of cloth stuffed in her mouth, and her eyes were red-rimmed, but when she looked at Xiao Lie, she shook her head vigorously.

The cloth in her mouth prevented her from speaking complete sentences; she could only make muffled sounds.

Xiao Lie narrowed his eyes slightly, his tone also suppressing boundless anger.

"If you dare touch a single hair on his head, I swear you will be chopped into mincemeat by the Taiping Blade!"

Mo Shu stood up and walked to Xiao Lie.

"Your Highness, there is no need to be angry. She is just a maid."

"Those who aspire to great things should not act like such a timid, girlish person."

"Your Highness, I will give you five days."

"If Your Highness is willing to cooperate within five days, then Miss Bisu will remain Miss Bisu."

He placed the small porcelain bottle on the table.

"If Your Highness is still unwilling in five days..."

"This humble servant will feed her this stuff."

"At that time, she will become a puppet without her own will, and she won't even remember who she is."

He paused.

"Given Your Highness's personality, you probably wouldn't want such a thing to happen, would you?"

Xiao Lie didn't speak, he just looked at Bi Su.

Bisu looked into his eyes and shook her head vigorously.

He looked at her for a while, then turned back to look at Mo Shu.

Five days.

His voice was cold, as piercing as the wind and snow of northern Xinjiang.

"Within five days, Bisu cannot lose a single hair."

Mo Shu nodded with a smile.

"Your Highness, please rest assured. This humble general only desires a show of sincerity in our cooperation."

Tie Gong found Xiao Lie that very night.

He entered without knocking, pushing the door open in a very low voice.

"Your Highness, Mo Shu has gone mad."

Xiao Lie was drawing under the lamp and didn't look up when he heard him speak.

"He was always crazy, he just used to be more patient with his madness."

Tie Gong sat down at the table.

"Your Highness, your safety is paramount right now. Miss Bisu is utterly loyal, even if it's for Your Highness's sake..."

"Shut up!"

Xiao Lie raised his head and stared at the iron bow.

"Bisu must be saved!"

Tie Gong nodded helplessly.

"What are Your Highness's plans?"

Xiao Lie put down his pen.

Five days later, I pretended to agree to his request.

"He will need me to do three things..."

"First, write a personal letter to Zhou Xun, urging the Northern Frontier to accept the surrender of the Panlong Guard;"

"Secondly, draw a new batch of weapon blueprints;"

"Third, make a public appearance and acknowledge Moshu as his advisor in the capacity of the 'King of the Northern Frontier'."

"Once these three things are done, he will feel that the overall situation is settled."

He raised his head.

"At that time, you will personally escort me to meet Mo Shu. I will present you with a handwritten letter and blueprints to show my sincerity."

"When he lowers his guard... you subdue him directly."

"Force him to hand over the antidote and the method to unblock his meridians."

Iron Bow remained silent for a moment.

"What if he doesn't pay?"

Xiao Lie looked at him.

"Then let's see if your knife is faster, or if he's more stubborn."

Iron Bow stood up.

"This subordinate understands."

On the fifth day, Tie Gong and Tie Muyun helped Xiao Lie into Mo Shu's council hall, one on each side.

Xiao Lie was pale and slightly out of breath as he walked.

Mo Shu was sitting in the main seat. When she saw them come in, her gaze lingered on each of the three of them for a moment before she smiled.

"Has Your Highness come to a change of heart?"

Tie Gong answered for Xiao Lie.

"Deputy Commander, His Highness is willing to cooperate."

"Release that girl first."

"Such despicable behavior is not befitting of the Panlong Guard!"

Mo Shu chuckled twice and pointed at the iron bow, teasingly.

"Oh? You're making such a big reaction to kidnapping a girl?"

"Iron Bow, the plague in Qingzhou was caused by your own hands!"

Tie Gong paused upon hearing this.

"I will take full responsibility for my actions. I will atone for the sins of Qingzhou!"

Mo Shu glanced at Tie Gong, said nothing more, waved his hand, and two soldiers led Bi Su out from the back room.

Bisu's ropes had been untied, and the gag in her mouth was gone. She quickly walked to Xiao Lie's side, her eyes still red.

"Your Highness! You shouldn't..."

Xiao Lie shook his head slightly and gestured for Bi Su to hide behind him.

"There's no such thing as right or wrong, I'm willing."

"Since everyone is happy, how can we be without wine?"

Mo Shu picked up a tray from the table, on which were placed three glasses of wine.

"Moreover, since we've decided to cooperate, it's also a good time to have an oath."

He handed one cup of wine to Tie Gong, one cup to Xiao Lie, and kept the last cup for himself.

"Drink this cup of wine, and from this day forward, the Panlong Guard and the Northern Frontier will be one."

Tie Gong took the glass, glanced at the clear liquid inside, and then at Xiao Lie.

Xiao Lie picked up the glass of wine, took a light sniff, and found the wine to be clear and transparent, with no apparent abnormalities.

He tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp. Tie Gong followed suit, and Mo Shu smiled as he finished his own cup, then put it down and looked at Xiao Lie.

"Your Highness is indeed straightforward."

"In that case, I have already had pen and ink prepared..."

Xiao Lie waved his hand, interrupting Mo Shu's nonsense.

"It's nothing more than a handwritten letter and blueprints. Since I've decided to cooperate, I've already prepared them."

"The iron bow, why haven't you handed it over yet?"

Tie Gong strode forward, taking out something Xiao Lie had prepared long ago from his pocket with his right hand.

"Vice Commander, you are a man of great learning, and you should understand the meaning of loyalty and righteousness far better than some mere soldier. How can you insult His Highness in such a way befit the conduct of a subject?"

Mo Shu took the letter and drawings with both hands and eagerly began to look through them.

"Commander Iron, you flatter me!"

"How dare I insult Your Highness? It's just that although Your Highness has extraordinary talent, you lack the heart of an emperor. I am merely helping the late emperor to discipline Your Highness."

"How could someone in a high position risk their life because of a mere maid?"

"Commander Tie, what do you say?"

Mo Shu stared intently at the blueprints, completely ignoring Tie Gong's response, but the broken sword at Tie Gong's waist was already pressed against Mo Shu's throat.

Although the blade was broken, the cut was still as sharp as ever, leaving a shallow white mark on Mo Shu's neck.

Mo Shu froze, his fingers still gripping the edge of the letter, not moving.

"Commander Tie, what do you mean by this?"

The sound of the iron bow was as cold as ice.

"The antidote!"

"Hand over the antidote from the Panlong Guard brothers, and the method to remove the meridian blockage from His Highness!"

Mo Shu was silent for a moment, then smiled.

"Iron Bow, you think I didn't expect this?"

He glanced down at the broken knife pressed against his throat.

"The drink you drank contained 'Bingyongsan' (a type of drug).

Iron Bow's pupils contracted sharply, his hand holding the knife trembled slightly, his body began to go limp, and his vision began to blur.

Xiao Lie did not react at all. After the wine entered his mouth, he only felt a warm sensation spreading from his stomach, and he felt lighter than before.

Mo Shu looked at Xiao Lie, her face showing genuine confusion for the first time.

"Your Highness's cup of wine..."

He paused.

"That shouldn't be, I clearly..."

Mo Shu's voice changed tone.

Why?

"Could it be that the meridians were blocked, which delayed the onset of the poison?"

Tie Muyun strode forward, snatched the broken knife from Tie Gong's hand, and stabbed it directly into Mo Shu's shoulder.

"Hand over the antidote!"

"Otherwise, I'll skin you alive right now!"

Xiao Lie took the small porcelain bottle out of his pocket.

It was the bottle of modified "Bingyong San" that Mo Shu had left in his room that he handed to Tie Muyun.

"Force it down his throat; he won't be able to refuse!"

Tie Muyun took it, and without saying a word, pried open Mo Shu's mouth and poured the entire bottle of powder into her mouth.

Mo Shu coughed violently from the choking and tried to spit it out, but the powder had already dissolved in her throat.

Tie Muyun pressed down hard on the hilt of the sword with both hands, and the broken blade pierced through Mo Shu's right shoulder.

"Ah! Tie Muyun! How dare you!"

"If anything happens to me, you'll never be able to save your godfather in this lifetime!"

Tie Muyun's eyes flickered as he turned to look at Tie Gong.

Iron Bow roared as it pounded its head violently.

"Leave me alone! If I can't get the formula for the antidote, then I'm truly beyond saving!"

Upon hearing this, Tie Muyun's eyes immediately turned cold, and he drew his broken sword and stabbed it towards Mo Shu's left shoulder!

"Three breaths! If you don't speak, I'll stab your throat with this next cut!"

Mo Shu was terrified and immediately begged for mercy.

"Wait! I'll talk, I'll talk!"

"The antidote requires three main ingredients and one guiding ingredient..."

"The main ingredients... First ingredient, dragon's blood... It must be dragon's blood aged for more than ten years, and it must be the kind produced in Xiliang... When broken open, it should be dark red and have a pine resin aroma... Second ingredient, borneol... It cannot be the kind available on the market... It must be tribute from Southeast Asia... The borneol content must be more than 70%..."

"These three herbs... are not hard to find... Dragon's blood, borneol, and aconite are all available in the clinic... it's just that guiding herb..."

Tie Muyun twisted the knife handle.

"Say it!"

"The guiding medicine... is 'Heart Source Guide'!"

Xiao Lie's eyes flickered.

"Is it the 'Heart-Breaking Poison' that I was previously afflicted with?"

Mo Shu nodded with difficulty.

"Bingyongsan and Xinyuanyin... are two medicines from the same source."

"The 'Soldier's Powder' seals a person's mind, making them unaware of pain... The 'Heart Collapse Poison' forcibly opens the meridians, causing a person to die from euphoria... These two are the antidote to each other..."

Tie Muyun released his grip and came to Tie Gong's side.

Iron Bow's body had begun to stiffen, and he leaned on the ground with his knife, his voice coming out intermittently.

"Mu Yun... quickly take His Highness away... gather the troops..."

Tie Muyun's eyes seemed to burn for a moment, but she did not hesitate. She turned around, picked up Xiao Lie, grabbed Bi Su, and rushed out.

The sound of the drums signaling the mobilization of troops came from behind, muffled and urgent, like a drum skin breaking apart.

With his last ounce of strength, Tie Gong straightened up, pulled the broken sword from Mo Shu's shoulder, and punched him unconscious. He then faced the Panlong Guards surging towards him outside.

"The late Emperor's dying wish! The Panlong Guard is at the command of the Northern Frontier King!"

He raised the broken sword and held it across his chest.

"Form ranks!!"

The Panlong Guard soldiers looked at each other, most of them having been poisoned by "Bingyong Powder" and their eyes were unfocused, but when the old commander with the broken sword in his hand stood in front of them, they hesitated instinctively.

Iron Bow used his broken sword to support himself on the ground, his body swaying slightly, but he never fell down.

As long as he can hold on for just a little longer, Tie Muyun can carry Xiao Lie a little further!

As Tie Muyun carried Xiao Lie into the cave, the sound of water surged from all directions, and the water under their feet was above their knees.

She ran forward, stumbling along, but the pursuers behind her did not catch up, and the sound of the drums used to gather troops was mostly blocked by the stone wall.

A sliver of light pierced through the cave's exit, and the moment she rushed out, the silhouette of the charred wood covering the slopes of Wolf Gaze Mountain came into view.

"Finally out..."

Just as Tie Muyun was about to put Xiao Lie down and catch his breath, a series of neat and uniform footsteps came from ahead.

Peng Xuan's soldiers are searching the mountains.

They moved through the scorched woods in groups, like a pack of hunting dogs searching for prey.

Tie Muyun quickly pulled Xiao Lie behind a large rock and made him squat down. Bi Su covered her mouth and squatted down next to them.

Tie Muyun lowered his voice.

"Is Peng Xuan still searching the mountain?"

"It's been almost half a month!"

"Didn't he already retreat when I left the valley last time?"

Xiao Lie was completely powerless and could only lean against the rock. His gaze narrowed slightly, and he immediately understood everything.

"He's still searching the mountain. There's only one possibility... he's certain I'm not dead."

His voice was very soft.

"Only Mo Shu told him this news!"

Tie Muyun was visibly shaken!

"Mo Shu colluded with the Chu Emperor?!"

"How dare he? How can he face the late emperor?"

Xiao Lie sneered.

"Didn't you notice that Mo Shu swallowed a bottle of 'Bingyong Powder,' yet didn't experience any poisoning even after recounting the antidote formula?"

"In these five days, he probably already made contact with the Chu Emperor."

Peng Xuan's footsteps grew closer.

Tie Muyun gripped the short sword at his waist and glanced at the cave entrance behind him...

The Panlong Guards could come after us at any moment.

She looked ahead again...

Peng Xuan's search team was moving in their direction. She was caught in the middle.

On his back was Xiao Lie, who was completely powerless, and beside him was Bi Su, who was so weak she could not even kill a chicken.

Xiao Lie suddenly spoke.

"Iron Girl, leave me here and go on your own. Go to the northern frontier and have Zhou Xun bring troops to pick you up."

Tie Muyun didn't turn around to look at him; his voice was cold and harsh.

"This humble general promises my godfather! I will escort His Highness back to the northern frontier!"

Xiao Lie chuckled softly.

"If you carry me on your back alone, can you outrun an attack from both sides?"

Tie Muyun did not answer.

The footsteps ahead were getting closer.