ITF Chapter102

The vanguard army had already set out ahead of schedule on the day of the landing; they needed to capture their first target fortress before the royal palace could mobilize more troops. The remaining forces were stationed near the harbor, waiting to rendezvous with the main army arriving from the south.

When the vanguard army was only a day’s journey away from the target fortress, Bai Heting met with two of his former subordinates at the harbor camp.

After resigning from his post as the steward of the General’s Mansion, Su Xingchuan’s place of residence was not far from the capital. However, to evade detection, and coupled with the need to pick up Qiu Chen first, he had chosen a rather tortuous route, taking much longer than expected to rush here.

Even though they had already learned from letters that Bai Heting was still alive, both of their eyes welled with tears. For the past four years, they had assumed that Bai Heting had unfortunately met with an accident during his mark-cleansing surgery; neither of them had ever imagined that the grand royal funeral had actually buried an empty coffin.

Yet Bai Heting remained entirely tight-lipped about everything regarding the surgery. He briefly brought them up to speed on the current combat plan, then listened to them talk about the recent status of the soldiers under their command—even though Su Xingchuan had already reported all of this in his letters.

Virtually identical to his conjectures, his confidants within the infantry corps had long since been removed from their original posts through ostensible promotions that were actually demotions. Bai Jiashu had not broken his word; he had allowed these people to receive higher salaries, except they were all doing trivial, inconsequential jobs. If anyone took the initiative to apply to leave the regular army, they would even receive some financial compensation, and a few officers who had achieved military merits were even granted titles of nobility.

Holding a cup of warm wine in his hand, Bai Heting paced a few steps inside the tent and said to Qiu Chen, “I heard that you are a baron now.”

Qiu Chen did not reply immediately.

Not only had he received a title of nobility, but he had also been granted marriage by the king. Although the Beta woman he married did not come from a prestigious and prominent family, she was still a noble lady, and her family was fiercely loyal to the royal family. Looking back now, the king’s purpose in granting this marriage was far from as innocent as he had thought.

He kept his head lowered in silence for a few seconds before saying in a low voice, “No one knows that I came here.”

Bai Heting waved his hand at him, seemingly unconcerned about the matter, and merely instructed, “The two of you will not appear on the front lines with me. You are to stay in the rear guard along with Luo Congye.”

Qiu Chen snapped his head up.

He had accompanied Bai Heting through life and death for many years and was always able to quickly grasp the meaning hidden behind Bai Heting’s words, yet at this moment, he displayed a rare trace of bewilderment.

After the bewilderment passed, he lowered his head once more.

Bai Heting offered no explanation, only telling him, “You’ve miscalculated.”

*

In early February, it snowed for a week straight in Urdan.

As the curtain of night slowly fell, Bai Heting stood on the peak at the very edge of the mountainous terrain, gazing down at the flat, featureless expanse of white below.

Tomorrow morning, the main army stationed here will divide into three routes and head off to fulfill their respective missions, following a procedure they had rehearsed countless times before.

He raised his hand and caught a crystal-clear snowflake drifting in the wind. The snowflake quickly melted away in his warm palm, and the very last sliver of light on the horizon gradually faded.

This was likely the last peaceful night before the end of this battle. And even if this battle resulted in a grand victory, it would merely be a beginning.

Footsteps crunched in the snow behind him, and a thick wool cloak was draped over Bai Heting’s shoulders. He glanced toward the commander’s tent and caught sight of a lone figure walking away.

He withdrew his gaze, a faint dissatisfaction edging his tone. “That boy has been constantly distracted lately.”

“Don’t worry,” Luo Congye said while helping him tie the cloak. “When it comes to official business, he is dependable.”

Tomorrow morning, Bei Yang would go to war alongside Bai Heting. In name, he was Bai Heting’s adjutant, but in reality, he held supreme command over this elite central army. Ever since boarding the ship, however, he had been exceptionally quiet and reticent, rarely dining with the others as if he were harboring something heavy on his mind. This was precisely why Luo Congye had called him out alone tonight for a discussion.

Now was not a time when they could afford to slack off.

Bai Heting stared straight ahead and let out a light scoff, “Let me make myself clear beforehand—if he drags me down, I won’t care whether he lives or dies.”

According to the intelligence sent back by the vanguard army, even if they factored in the mercenary force responsible for reinforcements on the right flank, the enemy forces outnumbered them at least two to one. Luo Congye couldn’t help but let out a long sigh, “I only hope you’ll care about your own life. If the plan fails, don’t hesitate—retreat immediately.”

Seeing that Bai Heting remained entirely unmoved by his exhortation, he reached out and forcefully turned his face toward him, his tone growing increasingly agitated, “Did you hear me?”

Bai Heting slapped his hand away with a sharp smack. “Is issuing orders to me becoming addictive for you?”

This time, Luo Congye grabbed him by the shoulders.

He forced Bai Heting’s entire body around, took a half-step forward, and pulled him into a tight embrace with both arms. Then, bending down slightly, he rested his chin on Bai Heting’s shoulder.

His heart had already taken it upon itself to recall the agonizing pain it felt when he first heard the news of Bai Heting’s death.

Back then, he still had resentment and hatred to sustain him, but now… now there was absolutely nothing left to sustain his life in a world without Bai Heting.

“This is a plea,” his muffled voice was nearly drowned out by the howling of the mountain wind and snow. “Don’t leave me behind. You promised.”

Frost and snow dampened his robes. Bai Heting raised a hand and gently patted his back.

“Luo Congye.” He called out softly.

He rarely addressed Luo Congye by his full name when they were alone, and Luo Congye couldn’t help but stiffen slightly.

“After this battle is over—”

Luo Congye was struck with alarm and suddenly straightened his body.

“You are not allowed to say that!” He barked, cutting him off.

Startled by the sudden spike in his volume, Bai Heting blinked. “Why?”

Luo Congye said solemnly, “In theatrical plays, whenever a main character says a line like that, something terrible happens.”

Bai Heting froze for a few seconds, and then his brow furrowed.

“Theatrical plays again?” He said with utter disdain. “Watch less of that useless garbage.”

Worried that Bai Heting would insist on having his own way, Luo Congye firmly pressed down on his shoulders with both hands, repeating himself with absolute gravity: “You. Are. Not. Allowed. To. Say. It!”

Bai Heting simply found this young man baffling.

But he did not continue speaking.

He raised his hand, brushing away the thin layer of snow atop Luo Congye’s head, and leaned back into his embrace, burying his face deeply into the crook of his neck.

“So warm.” He sighed softly.

With the clothes on their bodies so damp, it couldn’t actually be all that warm. Luo Congye looked down at him and suggested, “It’s too cold out here. Let’s head back inside the tent?”

“En.” Bai Heting gave a sluggish response, yet his feet did not move an inch.

The vanguard army had already set out ahead of schedule on the day of the landing; they needed to capture their first target fortress before the royal palace could mobilize more troops. The remaining forces were stationed near the harbor, waiting to rendezvous with the main army arriving from the south.

When the vanguard army was only a day’s journey away from the target fortress, Bai Heting met with two of his former subordinates at the harbor camp.

After resigning from his post as the steward of the General’s Mansion, Su Xingchuan’s place of residence was not far from the capital. However, to evade detection, and coupled with the need to pick up Qiu Chen first, he had chosen a rather tortuous route, taking much longer than expected to rush here.

Even though they had already learned from letters that Bai Heting was still alive, both of their eyes welled with tears. For the past four years, they had assumed that Bai Heting had unfortunately met with an accident during his mark-cleansing surgery; neither of them had ever imagined that the grand royal funeral had actually buried an empty coffin.

Yet Bai Heting remained entirely tight-lipped about everything regarding the surgery. He briefly brought them up to speed on the current combat plan, then listened to them talk about the recent status of the soldiers under their command—even though Su Xingchuan had already reported all of this in his letters.

Virtually identical to his conjectures, his confidants within the infantry corps had long since been removed from their original posts through ostensible promotions that were actually demotions. Bai Jiashu had not broken his word; he had allowed these people to receive higher salaries, except they were all doing trivial, inconsequential jobs. If anyone took the initiative to apply to leave the regular army, they would even receive some financial compensation, and a few officers who had achieved military merits were even granted titles of nobility.

Holding a cup of warm wine in his hand, Bai Heting paced a few steps inside the tent and said to Qiu Chen, “I heard that you are a baron now.”

Qiu Chen did not reply immediately.

Not only had he received a title of nobility, but he had also been granted marriage by the king. Although the Beta woman he married did not come from a prestigious and prominent family, she was still a noble lady, and her family was fiercely loyal to the royal family. Looking back now, the king’s purpose in granting this marriage was far from as innocent as he had thought.

He kept his head lowered in silence for a few seconds before saying in a low voice, “No one knows that I came here.”

Bai Heting waved his hand at him, seemingly unconcerned about the matter, and merely instructed, “The two of you will not appear on the front lines with me. You are to stay in the rear guard along with Luo Congye.”

Qiu Chen snapped his head up.

He had accompanied Bai Heting through life and death for many years and was always able to quickly grasp the meaning hidden behind Bai Heting’s words, yet at this moment, he displayed a rare trace of bewilderment.

After the bewilderment passed, he lowered his head once more.

Bai Heting offered no explanation, only telling him, “You’ve miscalculated.”

*

In early February, it snowed for a week straight in Urdan.

As the curtain of night slowly fell, Bai Heting stood on the peak at the very edge of the mountainous terrain, gazing down at the flat, featureless expanse of white below.

Tomorrow morning, the main army stationed here will divide into three routes and head off to fulfill their respective missions, following a procedure they had rehearsed countless times before.

He raised his hand and caught a crystal-clear snowflake drifting in the wind. The snowflake quickly melted away in his warm palm, and the very last sliver of light on the horizon gradually faded.

This was likely the last peaceful night before the end of this battle. And even if this battle resulted in a grand victory, it would merely be a beginning.

Footsteps crunched in the snow behind him, and a thick wool cloak was draped over Bai Heting’s shoulders. He glanced toward the commander’s tent and caught sight of a lone figure walking away.

He withdrew his gaze, a faint dissatisfaction edging his tone. “That boy has been constantly distracted lately.”

“Don’t worry,” Luo Congye said while helping him tie the cloak. “When it comes to official business, he is dependable.”

Tomorrow morning, Bei Yang would go to war alongside Bai Heting. In name, he was Bai Heting’s adjutant, but in reality, he held supreme command over this elite central army. Ever since boarding the ship, however, he had been exceptionally quiet and reticent, rarely dining with the others as if he were harboring something heavy on his mind. This was precisely why Luo Congye had called him out alone tonight for a discussion.

Now was not a time when they could afford to slack off.

Bai Heting stared straight ahead and let out a light scoff, “Let me make myself clear beforehand—if he drags me down, I won’t care whether he lives or dies.”

According to the intelligence sent back by the vanguard army, even if they factored in the mercenary force responsible for reinforcements on the right flank, the enemy forces outnumbered them at least two to one. Luo Congye couldn’t help but let out a long sigh, “I only hope you’ll care about your own life. If the plan fails, don’t hesitate—retreat immediately.”

Seeing that Bai Heting remained entirely unmoved by his exhortation, he reached out and forcefully turned his face toward him, his tone growing increasingly agitated, “Did you hear me?”

Bai Heting slapped his hand away with a sharp smack. “Is issuing orders to me becoming addictive for you?”

This time, Luo Congye grabbed him by the shoulders.

He forced Bai Heting’s entire body around, took a half-step forward, and pulled him into a tight embrace with both arms. Then, bending down slightly, he rested his chin on Bai Heting’s shoulder.

His heart had already taken it upon itself to recall the agonizing pain it felt when he first heard the news of Bai Heting’s death.

Back then, he still had resentment and hatred to sustain him, but now… now there was absolutely nothing left to sustain his life in a world without Bai Heting.

“This is a plea,” his muffled voice was nearly drowned out by the howling of the mountain wind and snow. “Don’t leave me behind. You promised.”

Frost and snow dampened his robes. Bai Heting raised a hand and gently patted his back.

“Luo Congye.” He called out softly.

He rarely addressed Luo Congye by his full name when they were alone, and Luo Congye couldn’t help but stiffen slightly.

“After this battle is over—”

Luo Congye was struck with alarm and suddenly straightened his body.

“You are not allowed to say that!” He barked, cutting him off.

Startled by the sudden spike in his volume, Bai Heting blinked. “Why?”

Luo Congye said solemnly, “In theatrical plays, whenever a main character says a line like that, something terrible happens.”

Bai Heting froze for a few seconds, and then his brow furrowed.

“Theatrical plays again?” He said with utter disdain. “Watch less of that useless garbage.”

Worried that Bai Heting would insist on having his own way, Luo Congye firmly pressed down on his shoulders with both hands, repeating himself with absolute gravity: “You. Are. Not. Allowed. To. Say. It!”

Bai Heting simply found this young man baffling.

But he did not continue speaking.

He raised his hand, brushing away the thin layer of snow atop Luo Congye’s head, and leaned back into his embrace, burying his face deeply into the crook of his neck.

“So warm.” He sighed softly.

With the clothes on their bodies so damp, it couldn’t actually be all that warm. Luo Congye looked down at him and suggested, “It’s too cold out here. Let’s head back inside the tent?”

“En.” Bai Heting gave a sluggish response, yet his feet did not move an inch.

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