Chapter 22 Entering the City

She took a deep breath, struggling to calm the turmoil in her heart. If things had come to this, she decided it would be best to get rid of him once the opportunity arose.

However, she needed to keep a low profile for now. Putting on the appearance of someone seeking protection after being frightened, Jiang Bai said, "In any case, I am very safe within the army. I just hope the General and the Strategist will look after my younger brother and me."

"That goes without saying. You are one of us now. No matter what happens, we will stand by your side," General Duan promised.

Jiang Bai continued to chat with them, and when the topic turned to the Double Ninth Festival, she remarked, "It will be October soon. I wonder when the General plans to move into the city?"

General Duan looked puzzled. "Why move into the city? Isn't camping outside perfectly fine?"

Jiang Bai turned her head and saw that Duan Jing also looked confused. The words she had prepared suddenly stuck in her throat. After carefully observing the expressions on the brothers' faces, she realized they genuinely intended to stay outside. She had no choice but to explain.

"This area is in the northwest, where it gets cold early. Now that the Double Ninth Festival has passed, the weather will turn frigid by October. And unlike the south, it is not only cold here but also prone to heavy sandstorms. Without thick walls, heated brick beds, and stoves, relying on a thin tent alone—the wind will cut right through it. It’s not just unsuitable for people to live in; even storing grain would be a disaster, as the wind would ruin it."

Duan Jing and his brother were truly unaware of this. They had always followed their father in the south, and their troops were all southerners. Although they had conquered this city, it was during the summer. The sun had been fierce then, but once the heat of the afternoon passed, it was actually more comfortable than a southern summer, so they hadn't considered how different winter would be.

"So, in your opinion, Doctor Jiang, we should move into the city?" They hadn't wanted to bring the entire army into the city—they had hoped to keep most of the troops outside—but after hearing Jiang Bai's explanation, they realized their initial plan was too simplistic.

"If we start building houses now, would there be enough time?" Even though Duan Jing had decided to move in, he still preferred to keep some men outside.

Jiang Bai recalled the weather patterns for this time of year. "It will snow around the beginning of winter. If you want to build houses, you must finish within a month. Once the snow falls and the ground freezes, construction will be impossible."

Since she had already brought it up, Jiang Bai detailed the local climate and environmental challenges. After all, she was staying with the army, and she didn't want this group of people to be foolish enough to freeze in their tents.

After Jiang Bai left, Duan Jing felt a sense of relief. He was glad he had chatted with her; otherwise, this band of southern soldiers might have had to suffer through the freezing cold before learning their lesson.

After watching Jiang Bai depart, Duan Jing slowly sat up and leaned against the headboard, his brow furrowed. The matter concerning the Shen family was much more complicated than what they had told Jiang Bai. Shortly after she joined the army, Shen Hui began seeking revenge for Shen Ye, but it seemed less like revenge and more like a pretext to search for something.

Meanwhile, inside a luxurious residence in Ping City:

"Master, we still haven't found him." A servant knelt on the cold floor, his forehead pressed against it, his voice trembling with anxiety.

The man sitting in the grand armchair slowly raised his head. In the candlelight, his handsome face looked exceptionally gloomy. His slender fingers tapped rhythmically against the armrest, a sound that seemed to strike at the hearts of everyone in the room.

"It has been three days," the man said, his voice low and icy. "Three days, and you can't even find one person. What use are you to me?"

The servant’s body shuddered. "Master, we have turned Ping City upside down. We have even searched the forests outside the city, but we just..."

"Enough!" The man slammed his hand against the armrest. "I don't want to hear these useless excuses."

The air in the room seemed to solidify. The other kneeling servants dared not breathe. They all knew that while their master usually appeared gentle, the consequences of his anger were unimaginable.

"Keep looking," the man said as he stood up and walked to the window, gazing out at the dark night. "I want to see the person alive, or a corpse if dead."

"Yes, Master." The servants retreated as if granted a reprieve, scrambling out of the room.

Left alone, the man stared into the night, his eyes dark and unfathomable. The moonlight streaming through the window cast mottled shadows on his face, making him look even more sinister.

"Where are you hiding?" he whispered.

At that moment, a disheveled little beggar slipped past the crowds and quietly hid inside Jiang Bai's old home.

The little beggar curled up in a corner of the courtyard, wrapped in a tattered, musty-smelling cotton jacket. His hair was a matted mess, as if it hadn't been combed in years, and his face was smeared with dirt and grime, yet his eyes shone with sharp intelligence.

Jiang Bai had moved out of the house not long ago. She had taken only her personal belongings and essentials, leaving the furniture behind—which now served the little beggar well.

However, the house had been empty for nearly a month. Without the warmth of human presence, it was hollow and vacant, with the wind whistling through, sounding like someone sobbing in the dark. The little beggar hunched his shoulders, feeling the chill. He groped his way into the kitchen, hoping to find food. Unfortunately, the kitchen held only abandoned pots and pans; there wasn't even a scrap of vegetable to be found.

"So unlucky," the little beggar muttered, his stomach growling in protest. He rubbed his belly and sighed, intending to look elsewhere, but then remembered the city guards were searching more strictly now, so he decided to wait.

Duan Yue had been told his wounds were nearly healed and could no longer bear to stay in bed. He stood at the entrance of his tent, gazing at the distant, rolling mountains. The mountain wind howled, carrying a biting chill. Because they had passed the summer smoothly, they had been careless and failed to notice how different this weather was compared to the south. He frowned, his fingers tapping unconsciously against the sword at his waist.

"Zhongxuan, look at this weather. I fear it’s truly going to change," Duan Yue said in a low voice.

Duan Jing turned to look at the sky through the tent flap, his expression growing somber. "Brother, Yang Bin checked with some locals, and they said exactly what Doctor Jiang said. We truly cannot continue camping outside the city."

Duan Yue fell silent for a moment, weighing the pros and cons. Although they had captured this city, it was not their target—the border fortress ahead was. This city was more remote and lacked abundant resources, making it unsuitable as a long-term base.

He turned around, his gaze sweeping over the dense rows of tents below the city walls. His heart tightened. In the cold wind, those tents looked incredibly thin, as if they might be blown away at any moment.

"In your opinion, how should we respond?" Duan Yue finally asked, a trace of helplessness in his tone.

"Just as Doctor Jiang said: move into the city."

Duan Yue looked surprised. "Move into the city? But you know our goal is Peng City, behind Ping City. If we station ourselves here now and someone else seizes the opportunity to take Peng City, wouldn't all our efforts be in vain?"

Duan Jing looked at him firmly. "General, that is precisely why we must enter the city. Though small, Ping City is the gateway to Peng City. If we don't occupy it, we leave the enemy an opening."

Duan Yue frowned in thought. He didn't agree immediately. Their original plan was to rest for a month and march on Peng City in October. He knew Duan Jing was always meticulous and never spoke without reason, but this time, he felt something was off.

"Tell me your reasoning," Duan Yue said, fixing a sharp gaze on Duan Jing.

Duan Jing nodded, summoned Stone to lay out the map, and pointed to Ping City. "General, look. Ping City is a strategic hub, connecting Peng City to the north and our main camp to the south. If we don't enter the city, the enemy can easily bypass it and strike Peng City directly. If we occupy the city, we can hold this position and block their path north."

Duan Yue’s eyes followed Duan Jing’s finger, his brow slowly relaxing. He had to admit that Duan Jing’s analysis made sense.

"But if we move in, doesn't that give the enemy a chance to besiege us?" Duan Yue still had concerns.

Duan Jing shook his head. "General, you worry too much. Our troops are strong. If the enemy dares to surround us, we can strike from both inside and out and crush them in one go."

"But remember, Ping City is small, its walls aren't particularly sturdy, and our supplies are limited. It might not be enough to sustain us for the next campaign."

"If the weather is the problem for us, it's an even bigger problem for others. If we move into the city now to rest, it doesn't mean we won't have a chance of victory in our next attack," Duan Jing asserted.

Duan Yue pondered for a moment and finally nodded. "Very well, as you say. The entire army moves into the city."

Once the order was given, the army moved quickly.

Jiang Bai hadn't expected them to be so fast; only a few days after their conversation, they had already decided. Still, it was for the best. Being settled early was a good thing. According to their arrangements, Jiang Bai and the other army doctors would be among the first to enter.

Fearing that things would be too chaotic, and knowing General Duan didn't plan to move just yet, Jiang Bai prepared to leave Jiang Ye in his care.

When Duan Jing walked in, he saw Duan Yue trying to trick the child into calling him "big brother" with a cunning look on his face.

Seeing Duan Jing’s indescribable expression, Duan Yue looked slightly unnatural and cleared his throat to cover it up. "Is there something you need?"

"Brother, you are twenty-five this year," Duan Jing couldn't help but remind him. Duan Yue was old enough to be Jiang Ye’s father, yet he was coaxing the child to call him "brother." Disgraceful.

"Why are you here?" Duan Yue ignored him.

Duan Jing looked at him with disdain and began to discuss the relocation. "The house we selected has been cleared out. Yang Bin is leading the logistics team to move in first. The original owners were city officials who fled with their families before the city fell. The place is empty, but I must say, they certainly valued their lives—the location is hidden, surrounded by high walls, and the conditions are decent. There’s even a deep well in the backyard, perfect for our temporary stay."

Duan Yue nodded. "It is indeed a good place."

Duan Jing smiled slightly. "Don't worry, I have already arranged everything."

"I trust your efficiency," Duan Yue said dismissively. Seeing that Duan Jing hadn't left and was still staring at him, he couldn't help but ask, "Anything else?"

"Stop playing with the child," Duan Jing warned the overgrown child. He remembered how disastrous it was when Duan Yue had looked after him and their third brother; he was worried the child might be teased into tears, and he wouldn't know how to answer to Jiang Bai.

"What are you talking about? I wouldn't," Duan Yue said, refusing to admit it.

"You'd better not," Duan Jing said, clearly unconvinced.

"Oh, I know, I know. It's not like that. It was just that you and the third one were unruly—each more difficult than the last. Look at this child; so well-behaved, nothing like that will happen." Duan Yue sighed at the thought of their childhood.

Duan Jing remained skeptical but said no more. After all, the child wasn't being handed to him; Jiang Bai had entrusted her to Duan Yue. He hoped that no matter the outcome, Jiang Bai would be able to accept it—he hoped.

Meanwhile, as Jiang Bai and the other doctors finished organizing their temporary quarters, they realized they were lacking many winter necessities. After asking around and learning that supplies weren't guaranteed to be available, she decided to return home to fetch their winter clothes and bedding. After all, those clothes had been hand-stitched by her mother when she was alive, and the bedding was very warm.

Seeing that her chores were nearly done, Jiang Bai found a young medicine boy to accompany her back home, unaware that a big problem was waiting for her there.

The little beggar had just stuffed the food he had begged into his mouth when he heard footsteps in the courtyard. His heart leapt into his throat. He quickly hid behind the kitchen cabinet, holding his breath, terrified of being discovered.

The footsteps grew closer, finally stopping at the kitchen door. Through a gap in the cabinet, the little beggar saw a pair of feet. The person seemed to be looking around the kitchen, finally stopping right in front of the cabinet.

"Come out. I know you're in there," a cold, calm voice said.

As soon as Jiang Bai entered the courtyard, she sensed something was wrong. Using her ability to sense plants, she detected a child squatting by the stove, gnawing on a dry bun, near the locust tree outside the kitchen window.

The little beggar's heart beat faster. He pressed himself against the cabinet, not daring to move. He didn't know who this person was, but his intuition told him she was not to be trifled with.

"I will count to three. If you don't come out, I'll take action myself," Jiang Bai said, her voice cold and threatening.

"One... two..."

Before Jiang Bai reached three, the little beggar jumped out from behind the cabinet, raising his hands in surrender.

"Don't hit me! I... I'm just passing through, I'll leave right now!" The little beggar’s voice trembled. He acted cowed and fearful, but his eyes remained alert.

Jiang Bai looked down at him, her face expressionless. "Who are you? Why are you here?"