Before he could finish speaking, Chu Tong chuckled and said, "This imperial envoy is indeed clueless about military affairs, but when it comes to catching spies, I am quite skilled." With that, she got up and walked out. When she arrived at Tao Guanglin's tent, she hesitated for a moment, then lifted the curtain and went inside.
Tao Guanglin was wiping his weapons when he saw Chu Tong arrive. He quickly stood up and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Your Excellency."
Chu Tong smiled and said, "General, you are too kind. I have just been racking my brains and came up with a way to catch spies, so I came to discuss it with you." Then he sat down and talked at length.
Tao Guanglin pondered for a moment, then slapped his thigh and said, "Then let's try it as the Imperial Envoy says." He then said to Chu Tong in a kind and friendly manner, "Imperial Envoy, it is inconvenient for a woman like you to live in the army. I have already sent someone to buy a clever maid to serve you. If you need anything else, just come and find me. I see that you only brought one guard with you. I will send a few more personal guards to protect your safety."
Chu Tong cupped his hands and smiled, "General Tao, you are too kind. It is only right for this imperial envoy to share weal and woe with the soldiers. However, this imperial envoy still wants to thank General Tao for his kindness." After saying that, the two laughed a few times.
Two days later, Tao Guanglin summoned all the officers, high and low, to his tent and said, “His Majesty has sent an imperial envoy to personally oversee the battle. We must naturally perform well to live up to His Majesty’s grace. Therefore, everyone should train diligently and launch a powerful attack in the next few days to wipe out the rebels!” The generals clasped their fists and said, “Yes, General!” Tao Guanglin said, “In that case, everyone should go back and prepare to be ready at any time!” The generals accepted the order, then discussed among themselves and left.
Having received the order, the spies became restless and began secretly sending messages. Liu Zhang was one of them. He was originally a captain, a prestigious position, but one that offered little opportunity for personal gain. The rebels had bribed him with a large sum of money to deliver messages at any time. He initially dared not, but seeing how easy it was to make money, he couldn't resist and did it once without being discovered. His boldness grew, and the gleaming silver flowed steadily into his pockets.
He had just received the news that day and slipped out to meet his informant. Unexpectedly, he was caught red-handed by the soldiers as soon as he returned. The soldiers, as fierce as wolves, twisted his arm and said, "Lieutenant Liu, General Tao and the Imperial Envoy invite you to have a cup of tea. Come with us!" After saying that, they tied him up and took him to the main tent.
Liu Zhang immediately knew his scheme had been exposed and his life was over. He collapsed to the ground, trembling with fear. Just then, someone above him cleared their throat and said, "Liu, raise your head!" Liu Zhang looked up and saw a young woman sitting in the center of the room. She wore a red velvet cloak, held a wooden cane in her left hand, and sat upright in a grand chair. Her face was solemn and dignified, but her eyes darted around slyly. Who else could this be but Imperial Envoy Yao?
Liu Zhang was sweating profusely, knowing he had already denied his minor offense, and kept kowtowing, saying, "My lord, spare my life! I deserve to die a thousand deaths! My lord, spare my life!"
Chu Tong smiled and said, "Lieutenant Liu, you are too kind. Although you colluded with the rebels and should have your whole family executed, you are a man of integrity. You are trustworthy in business, and every message you gave to the rebels was genuine without any concealment or fraud. From this, it seems that you are an honest and trustworthy person. I, the imperial envoy, admire you very much."
Liu Zhang's face turned ashen, and he kowtowed repeatedly like a chicken pecking at rice, crying out, "My lord, spare my life! My lord, spare my life!"
Chu Tong stood up with her cane and slowly walked to Liu Zhang. She had a bit of the imposing presence of Lady Yu, who could hold off ten thousand men. She bent down and said, "Liu Zhang, I didn't hit you or scold you, so why are you crying?" She patted Liu Zhang's shoulder and said, "It is precisely because I think you are honest and trustworthy that I intend to give you another chance to live."
Liu Zhang's eyes lit up, and he knelt forward a few steps to get in front of Chu Tong, loudly proclaiming, "This humble servant is willing to atone for his sins with merit! Willing to atone for his sins with merit!"
Chu Tong nodded and smiled, "Good, very good. Captain Liu is truly a man who knows how to adapt to the times."
After saying that, he put away his smile and said, "I order you to infiltrate the rebel army and become a spy for the imperial court, specializing in passing on false information to the enemy. If you make a great contribution in this regard, you will be pardoned from all your crimes!"
Liu Zhang was overjoyed and hurriedly kowtowed, saying, "I would go through fire and water for you!"
Chu Tong lowered her head again and said gently, "Lieutenant Liu, I have just inquired about your family affairs. Lieutenant Liu has elderly parents in their sixties, adorable children of seven or eight years old, and a young widow you love. Tsk, you are quite the ladies' man! Since Lieutenant Liu is willing to serve the Emperor faithfully from now on, I will take good care of your family. I wish your sixty-year-old parents, your seven or eight-year-old children, and your beautiful young widow all good health, peace, and long life."
Liu Zhang broke out in a cold sweat. Chu Tong said to the guards beside him, "Why aren't you untying Captain Liu?" The guards untied Liu Zhang, and Chu Tong smiled and said, "Captain Liu, you can go back now. You are a smart man. Don't forget that you are still receiving a salary from the court. If I need you, I will inform you."
Liu Zhang hurriedly kowtowed, saying, "I would gladly die a thousand deaths!" Chu Tong waved his hand, dismissing him. As Liu Zhang reached the door, Chu Tong's voice drifted over again, "Liu, this imperial envoy will frequently send people to visit your sixty-year-old parents, your seven- or eight-year-old child, and that young widow from the same village!"
Liu Zhang shuddered, feeling as if the clear, crisp voice came from hell. He hurriedly walked out of the military tent, and after walking a short distance, he collapsed to the ground, feeling that his clothes were soaked with cold sweat.
Chu Tong captured eight spies, inviting each of them to his tent for a brief talk. Using his silver tongue and a combination of persuasion and coercion, Chu Tong eventually released them. The spies were terrified, their faces ashen. Two days later, Chu Tong sent three spies to meet with the rebels' informants, relaying false intelligence that enemy activity would occur in five days. That evening, Tao Guanglin led a large army in a surprise multi-pronged attack, catching the rebels off guard and throwing them into chaos. The imperial army inflicted heavy losses on the rebel forces, capturing two of their generals and recovering several lost territories. Seeing the momentum shifting, Chu Tong launched two more surprise attacks. The rebels were severely weakened, and Xie Linghui quickly mustered his remaining troops and infiltrated the mountains.
The generals were overjoyed, their previous worries vanished, and Chu Tong became the number one hero of this counterattack. Under Tao Guanglin's deliberate embellishment, Chu Tong's story was eventually embellished to the point of being almost mythical. Everyone praised the imperial envoy's brilliant strategy, and flattery poured into Chu Tong's ears like a flowing river, which she naturally enjoyed.
That day, Dexin was sitting upright behind the dragon's desk, holding a military report in his hands. He read it carefully twice, then tossed the report onto the desk, closed his eyes, shook his head, and suddenly laughed:
"Yao Chutong, haha—this little girl is quite interesting."
At this moment, Chu Tong and Yun Yinghuai were sitting in the tent chatting and laughing. Yun Yinghuai told a few interesting stories about the martial arts world, and then suddenly changed the subject and said to Chu Tong, "Xing'er, I always feel that General Tao treats you very differently."
Chu Tong chuckled and said, "How is he different from me? Does he also have the discerning eye to recognize a hero, submit to the wisdom of this imperial envoy, and be filled with admiration for me?"
Yun Yinghuai pinched Chu Tong's cheek and said, "No, no, the way he looks at you is just like how my master looks at me, full of affection. Since you came here, he has personally taken care of everything for you, thinking of everything carefully, fearing that you might not be comfortable here, and he has been very protective of you in his words. Xing'er, you are not an official of the court, much less a member of the royal family. The emperor said he would bestow upon you the title of princess, but the ceremony has not yet taken place, and you are still just a commoner. He is a dignified third-rank military officer, and it is only right that he treats you with respect, but there is no need for him to be so obsequious." After saying that, he looked at Chu Tong and said, "Moreover, I have noticed that you and he look somewhat alike."
Chu Tong chuckled and said, "He's a great general, and I'm just a young lady. What's there to compare?"
Yun Yinghuai laughed, "You two are always all smiles, but deep down you both have a ruthless streak. Your eyes are just like his... Xing'er, is he...?"
Before Chu Tong could speak, someone outside the tent called out loudly, "Your Excellency, General Tao is waiting outside!" Chu Tong said, "Please let him in!" Tao Guanglin then lifted the curtain and walked in. Upon seeing Chu Tong, he smiled and said, "Greetings, Your Excellency. I just received intelligence, so I came to discuss this with you."
Chu Tong asked curiously, "Oh? What happened?"
Tao Guanglin said, "Our scouts report that Xie Linghui plans to lead his troops to rest and recuperate for a period of time before gathering all his strength for a final stand against the imperial army. Your Excellency, given the current situation, do you think we should send troops ahead of schedule to wipe out the rebels in one fell swoop?"
Chu Tong thought to herself: "Bah! I don't know anything about military strategy, how would I know whether to fight or wait?" Chu Tong smiled and said, "General Tao, it is difficult for me to ask such a question. I really don't know anything about military strategy. Please make the decision yourself. When the rebels are wiped out, I will definitely report to the Emperor and say that all of this is thanks to you, General."
Tao Guanglin shook his head and said, "Your Excellency, the Emperor sent an imperial edict to me by fast riders, ordering me to consult with Your Excellency before making any major decisions."
Chu Tong raised an eyebrow, looking at Tao Guanglin with a half-smile, thinking to herself: "Pah! This guy is clearly afraid of making a wrong decision and delaying military intelligence, so he's dragging me down as a scapegoat, wanting me to share his misfortune. I have no relationship with him whatsoever, why should I take the blame for him!" So, Chu Tong said:
"General Tao, I'm just a little girl, I know nothing about military operations or warfare. If you're consulting me, you've come to the wrong person! If I cause any delays in military operations, wouldn't I be a sinner for all eternity? General Tao is a brilliant strategist, invincible in battle, and will surely make wise decisions!" In fact, Chu Tong was mistaken. No matter how bold Tao Guanglin was, he wouldn't dare to forge an imperial edict. De Xin had indeed given him a secret edict, instructing him to discuss everything with Yao Chu Tong before making a decision.
Tao Guanglin smiled and said, "Your Excellency is too modest. But what do you think of Xie Linghui's actions?" He then immediately added, "Your Excellency need not worry. Of course, I am the one who calls the shots in military campaigns."
After hearing what Tao Guanglin said, Chu Tong thought for a moment and said, "Xie Linghui is cunning and treacherous. Sometimes you have to think about what he says in reverse. He says he wants to recuperate, so he is probably going to launch a counterattack soon. He says he is gathering all his strength for a final battle, so he must have left behind elite forces to escape when he has the chance."
Tao Guanglin nodded and said, "Great minds think alike. My original intention was also to enter the mountains and attack the enemy in the next few days. We must not give the enemy a chance to rest and recuperate."
At this moment, Yun Yinghuai couldn't help but say, "Instead of attacking the enemy in the mountains, we should just surround them without fighting, wait for them to tire themselves out, starve them for ten or fifteen days until they run out of food and supplies, and then set up a trap to lure them out. At that time, we can wipe out that group of traitors in one fell swoop!"
Tao Guanglin was taken aback, then looked at Yun Yinghuai and praised, "Excellent! Conquering the enemy while they are at ease."
Chu Tong hurriedly said, "General Tao, my bodyguard and I are laymen when it comes to military strategy, so our words are not valid. General, you should consider this carefully before making a decision."
Tao Guanglin smiled and said, "Of course." He pondered for a moment, then looked up and said, "Sir, I have a few words I would like to say to you privately. Could you ask someone else to leave?"
Chu Tong glanced at Yun Yinghuai, who immediately clasped his hands in a fist salute and said, "Take your leave."
After Yun Yinghuai left, Chu Tong asked curiously, "I wonder what General Tao wants to tell me?"
Tao Guanglin looked at Chu Tong with a complicated expression, his lips moved, and finally he spoke:
"Dan... Danxing... You should be called Danxing, right?"
Chu Tong was startled, quickly raised her head to stare at Tao Guanglin's face, and then chuckled:
"General Tao, my name is Yao Chutong, not Danxing."
Tao Guanglin stepped forward and said urgently, "No, no! I can tell you are my and Xianglian's daughter just by looking at you. You look so much like her, almost exactly the same! Your original name was Danxing, right? I gave you that name. When your mother was pregnant, she dreamed of a tree of fiery red apricot blossoms, and I said, 'Apricot means good fortune.' From now on, I will name this child Danxing, meaning 'Of all the things in the world, she is the only one who is lucky,' and that she will be able to turn danger into safety and misfortune into good fortune in the future."
Chu Tong suppressed her smile and said solemnly, "General Tao, you must have mistaken me for someone else. However, my hometown is in Nanhuai, and I have indeed heard of a girl named Yao Danxing. But her mother died early, and she got involved in some kind of Jianghu feud while working as a prostitute and was killed with a single blow! General Tao, you should inquire about her; perhaps you can find some clues."
Tao Guanglin smiled bitterly, “Danxing, do you hate me? Back then, the late emperor appointed me as his son-in-law, and I married his most beloved daughter. The princess was naturally jealous. As soon as she arrived, she drove Xianglian away and told the madam not to allow anyone to redeem her. She also sent her own spies to keep an eye on you and your daughter every day, and if there was any trouble, she would kill you and your daughter immediately. I couldn’t save her, so I had to pay the madam to take good care of you and your daughter. Later, I happened to go to Nanhuai and met Xianglian at a banquet. I didn’t dare to recognize her, for fear of bringing disaster upon you and your daughter, so I had to hurriedly avoid her…”
Chu Tong narrowed her eyes and smiled, "General Tao certainly has a lot of difficulties, but if you really want to help, why not just send a few experts to snatch him back?"
Tao Guanglin said, "Danxing, the princess's decision to drive Xianglian away was actually the late emperor's intention. The late emperor hinted at it to me several times, so I had no choice but to harden my heart." He paused here and continued, "Later, Xianglian died, and you disappeared. I searched for you every day. Who knew you would end up wandering the martial world, becoming a female knight-errant, and now you've even become an imperial envoy! The day I saw you, I recognized you as my and Xianglian's daughter. Danxing, your father knows you hate me. If you just tell me, your father is willing to go through fire and water to make amends to you."
Chu Tong shook her head and said, "General Tao, let me ask you, if I were still a wandering orphan girl, would you still acknowledge me? You were unwilling to acknowledge my mother back then, but now you are willing to acknowledge me? Aren't you afraid that I will bring some kind of disaster upon myself?" After she finished speaking, Tao Guanglin's face immediately turned pale.
Chu Tong sighed, thinking to herself: My father is quite adept at judging the situation and changing his stance according to the wind. No wonder we're father and daughter; I'm like him in that respect. Only, I have a slightly stronger conscience than him. Thinking this, Chu Tong suddenly burst into laughter and said to Tao Guanglin, "General Tao, all I want now is to wipe out the rebels and cut off Xie Linghui's head, so as not to fail the Emperor's grace. Therefore, you and I are merely working together. From now on, we can help each other and benefit each other. You'll be happy, I'll be happy, and everyone else will be happy together—isn't that wonderful?" Having said this, she looked intently at Tao Guanglin and said, "General Tao, I, Yao Chu Tong, am not that Yao Danxing. I have no parents; I'm just a little orphan."
Tao Guanglin silently looked at Chu Tong for a long time, then nodded and said, "I understand. Even if you don't want to acknowledge me, I will still be your father. I will repay what I owe you." After saying that, he turned and walked out.
As soon as Tao Guanglin left, Yun Yinghuai walked in, and Chu Tong threw herself into his arms. Yun Yinghuai was startled and quickly asked, "Xing'er, what's wrong?" Chu Tong buried her head in Yun Yinghuai's chest and recounted the whole story, letting out a long sigh, "I never thought of going to him; I just considered myself a little orphan. Before, he cared about me, and although I didn't say anything, I felt warm inside. But what he said just now made me hate him again."
After listening, Yun Yinghuai pondered for a moment, then patted Chu Tong on the back and said, "If that's the case, it's fine if you don't acknowledge him. But he is still your father, and now he's willing to make amends to you. It's always a good thing to have someone who cares for you. You're so resolute with him; you shouldn't regret it later."
Chu Tong shook her head and said, "As long as you treat me well, that's enough." She thought to herself: The three people who treated me best in the world were my mother, my husband, and my elder brother. Now my mother and elder brother are dead... She closed her eyes and remembered Wang Lang's half-smiling expression as he waved his fan, and tears quietly streamed down her cheeks.
I too am a traveler returning to the land.
Two days later, Tao Guanglin launched a swift attack, with 30,000 troops surrounding the rebels like an impregnable fortress. He then held his ground, setting up camp and garrisoning the area.
Chu Tong was extremely leisurely every day, riding horses and hunting with Yun Yinghuai, playing chess and playing the zither, quite content. One day, Yun Yinghuai was teaching Chu Tong to play the flute in the tent when suddenly they heard the sound of horses' hooves outside the door. A moment later, a soldier lifted the curtain and entered, kneeling on one knee and clasping his hands in a fist, saying, "General Tao has sent me to inform the supervising officer that the rebels are gathering their strength to break through the siege!"
Chu Tong and Yun Yinghuai exchanged glances, and Chu Tong laughed, "Goodness, the show is about to begin! Xie Linghui has indeed lost his patience." After saying that, she and Yun Yinghuai walked out of the tent, mounted their horses, and galloped away.
Upon reaching the mountainside, they found Tao Guanglin already waiting. He smiled slightly at Chu Tong and said, "Your Excellency, your plan is excellent. You ordered people to light fires and cook in a downwind spot, and the aroma of the food has already carried over with the wind. After several days, the rebels finally couldn't hold back any longer and decided to break out at all costs."
Chu Tong said, "That's right, we've been besieging them for a month now. The rebels should have run out of food by now, and they must be starving and dizzy. Shouldn't we give them a good beating?!"
Yun Yinghuai said, "Xie Linghui is ambitious and has the spirit of 'to live as a hero and die as a ghost.' Now that he's been forced into a corner, he'll probably gather all his forces and fight to the death to break through. Besides, he has the deposed Crown Prince Deming by his side, and he'll do everything he can to get Deming out. In my opinion, he'll fight his way out of the encirclement. So let's keep an eye on the most elite troops, lure them into a trap, and wipe them all out!"
Chu Tong shook her head and said, "Young master, you don't understand Xie Linghui at all! He's a ruthless villain, not a great hero. He's cunning and fickle, and has no loyalty to the emperor or patriotism. Once disaster strikes and the situation turns unfavorable, as long as he can save his life and property, he certainly won't be a righteous and heroic figure who gets 'killed.' He'll definitely find a way to escape without saying a word, and might even drag that unlucky Deming out as a scapegoat. As the saying goes, 'Where there's life, there's hope.'"
Yun Yinghuai was taken aback, then sighed after a moment of contemplation, "You truly are Xie Linghui's confidant." Chu Tong thought to herself: Of course, if it were me, I'm afraid I would have done the same.
Tao Guanglin's eyes flickered slightly as he looked at Chu Tong and asked, "I wonder what brilliant plan the supervising officer has in mind?"
Chu Tong said, "In my opinion, we should not only surround the enemy completely, but also send a large army to cut off their retreat and block all their escape routes! We should defeat them decisively and leave no one alive. If Xie Linghui really wants to escape alone with his confidants, he will definitely disguise himself and sneak away. We must not let a single enemy soldier escape!"
At this moment, Liu Zhang happened to be next to Tao Guanglin. Upon hearing Chu Tong's words, he hurriedly flattered him, saying, "Wonderful! Wonderful! Commander Linjun is exceptionally intelligent and resourceful. You can come up with a brilliant plan to shake up Commander Qian with just a few words!"
Chu Tong was smug, but then quickly added, "This is just a suggestion from the military supervisor; please consider it, General Tao." Tao Guanglin nodded and went to make arrangements.
The battle raged from afternoon until late at night, with both sides fighting fiercely. The sounds of gongs and drums and the cries of battle startled countless birds and beasts. Gradually, the Xiong Dynasty's forces, being numerous and powerful, began to crumble, and reports of victories arrived frequently.
Chu Tong was growing impatient when a military advisor came to report, "Reporting to the supervisor, we have captured one of the enemy's generals. This man claims his surname is Hong and wants to see the supervisor. He says he has something to say." Chu Tong's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly said, "Bring him to me."
A moment later, ruthless soldiers escorted a middle-aged man, bound hand and foot, forward and forced him to kneel. The man, covered in blood and filth, looked Chu Tong up and down a few times, then slowly nodded and said indifferently, "Yao Chu Tong, it really is you. Second Master told me a long time ago that he took Wang Lang's head, and you would seek revenge sooner or later. I didn't expect you to actually come."
Chu Tong said coldly, "Steward Hong, even if he didn't kill Wang Lang, we've already severed all ties. If we meet again, I will definitely take his life. Steward Hong, don't forget that two years ago, on a cold winter night, you chased me down in the deserted streets, intending to kill me. Since then, we've had no relationship whatsoever. What do you want to say to me? Do you want me to give you a quick death?"
A trace of sorrow flashed across Steward Hong's eyes. After a long silence, he said, "Yes, we were indeed sorry for what happened back then..."
Chu Tong waved her hand and said, "Steward Hong, let's stop pretending. What do you want from me? Do you want me to give you a break? Fine, tell me where Xie Linghui is, and I'll spare your life."
Chief Steward Hong shook his head and said, "I am not here to beg for my life." Then he looked intently at Chu Tong and said, "Yao Chu Tong, you have won a great victory. The Second Master ordered me to lead the troops out. If I am captured, he told me to come see you. He has a few words for you. The Second Master said that all the troubles and grudges started with him. He is waiting for you in the stone cave behind the mountain. He will repay what he owes you, but please release those soldiers who rebelled with him. Please do not kill them all. Give them a way out."
Chu Tong sneered, "Isn't this another of Master Xie's tricks? To lure me over there and then take the opportunity to kidnap the Imperial Envoy and escape. Steward Hong, do you think I'll fall for it?"
Steward Hong's face turned pale, and he gritted his teeth, saying, "Yao Chutong, you'll know whether it's true or not when you go there! If Second Master wanted to escape, would he have waited until now? As long as you nod, I'll give the signal for everyone to surrender immediately!"
Chu Tong looked at Steward Hong suspiciously, thinking: Xie Linghui is now surrounded and besieged on all sides. Even if he tries to escape, he can't. Holding me hostage is useless. Besides, Steward Hong's words make sense. If Xie Linghui wanted to escape, would he have waited until now? Chu Tong nodded and said, "Alright, I agree." She then glanced at Tao Guanglin. Tao Guanglin, eager to end the battle, nodded and immediately ordered that if the rebels surrendered, they should not be killed, only their weapons should be confiscated.
Chief Hong said, "I have an incendiary bomb hanging from my waist. You can throw it." The guard took the bomb from Chief Hong's waist and threw it hard to the ground. With a "crack," a sharp whistling sound rose from the ground, and a bright flame shot into the air.
After waiting for a while, the shouts of battle gradually subsided.
Chu Tong turned her head and saw Yun Yinghuai looking at her with concern, whispering, "Xing'er, what do you plan to do now?"
Looking at the undulating mountains in the distance, Chu Tong said, "Now I naturally have to go see Xie Linghui. I told my elder brother that I want to cut off Xie Linghui's head to appease his spirit in heaven... Besides, the score between Xie Linghui and me needs to be settled properly."
Night fell, and a cool breeze blew. Chu Tong led her people toward the stone cave behind the mountain. Along the way, they saw countless corpses, their deaths gruesome, making the mountain feel increasingly eerie.
When they were still a shot's distance from the cave, Yun Yinghuai tugged at Chu Tong's sleeve, then led a few personal guards into the cave. A moment later, he came out with a complicated expression and said, "Xing'er... Xie Linghui is indeed inside alone. You can go in..." He then handed Chu Tong a dagger and said, "This dagger is poisoned. It will kill on contact with blood."
Chu Tong smiled, tucked the dagger into her bosom, and stepped inside, only to be greatly surprised. The cave wasn't large, but over a hundred candles were burning throughout, illuminating the interior as bright as day. Xie Linghui sat beside a large rock, wearing a pure white brocade crane-feather cloak with embroidered patterns and foreign-style thread, a matching belt around his waist, and a pair of small court boots. In the candlelight, his face appeared even more handsome, and his noble bearing was like the bright moon in the sky.
On the boulder in front of Xie Linghui was a set of purple clay teaware with auspicious cloud and mandarin duck patterns. He seemed not to see Chu Tong, nor did he seem to be the general who had just commanded thousands of troops and whose hands were stained with blood. At this moment, he was holding a teapot and brewing tea in the manner of tea ceremony, with a calm and composed expression and a faint smile on his lips.
After a while, he looked up at Chu Tong and smiled, "Chu Tong, you're here. Sit down!" His tone was natural, as if he and Chu Tong were not mortal enemies, but old friends who hadn't seen each other for many years. Chu Tong thought to herself: Sit down then, do you think I'm afraid of you? So she sat down opposite Xie Linghui.
Xie Linghui poured a cup of tea and placed it in front of Chu Tong, saying, "It's made with spring water from the mountains, the finest Tieguanyin. Chu Tong, do you remember? When you first came to the Xie family, the first tea you brewed for me was Tieguanyin."
Chu Tong sneered, "Don't bring up the past with me. When you killed me back then, you didn't care about any past feelings. Now that I'm killing you, you bring up the past with me. What a joke."
Xie Linghui was taken aback, then gave a bitter smile, picked up the teacup in front of him, took a sip, and said, "Tea is still the best. I've rarely drunk tea these past few years, but I've drunk too much wine instead." Then he looked intently at Chu Tong and said, "Chu Tong, before I die, please have one last cup of tea with me. This is something I've been preparing for. From the moment I killed Wang Lang, I knew you would seek revenge."
Xie Linghui's phoenix eyes shimmered even more brightly in the candlelight. Chu Tong had imagined countless times what she would do upon seeing Xie Linghui. She wanted to point her finger at him and hurl insults, slap him mercilessly, then tear him to pieces, and finally chop off his head. Chu Tong narrowed her eyes. She never expected that she, filled with hatred and brimming with murderous intent, would be greeted only by a cave with a thousand flickering candlelight, and her mortal enemy so calm and peaceful. At this moment, she couldn't utter a single word.
Xie Linghui downed his tea in one gulp and said, "Chutong, several years have passed in the blink of an eye. I still remember when you first came to the Xie residence, you were wearing a very old floral cotton-padded jacket, with your hair in two buns, and you looked quite clever. Later, you led me to sneak drinks with you and even sang for me." Xie Linghui smiled as he said this, and continued, "You've always been by my side, and I've grown to like you more and more each day. I wanted to keep you by my side, so I gave you a jade ruyi as a token of our love, and you gave me a purse in return."