As night deepened, the Jin army launched another offensive against the stronghold, not only deploying infantry but also employing siege engines.
A volley of fire arrows, like talons, tore through the dark night sky, raining down upon the civilian quarters.
Distant shouts of battle filled the air. Lin Chaoying, standing for the first time on the side of the defenders, felt a strange sense of humiliation and worry. Gazing at how he and the garrison resisted like ants, she longed to help but feared adding to his troubles. "You must be thinking the same as me, looking for a chance to take down a few Jin soldiers and get some exercise, right?" Zhou Botong appeared from nowhere. Before Lin Chaoying could react, she heard him exclaim excitedly, "Shattering mountains and stones!" Lin Chaoying also cried out, "That's Gou'er's home!" She leaped into action, dashing through the flames and straight into the house.
Meng and Zhou, along with neighbors, rushed over to find her emerging from the burning building, smoke billowing around her, carrying the dog mother and child. After handing the mother and child to the two men, she turned and began dismantling a clothesline. A frightened neighbor shouted, "Demoness, what are you doing?" Meng Han Guang intervened, saying, "Don't misunderstand, she's preventing the fire from spreading." Lin Chaoying instructed Meng Han Guang, "Quickly get them to safety," while pulling down cloth from the clothesline, connecting it into a long strip, attaching one end to a jar, and then plunging it into a water vat. She then leaped up, pulling out the soaked strip and the water-filled jar, and hurled it towards the fire. She repeated this process rapidly and continuously, eventually bringing the blaze under control. Her movements were graceful, and as the people escaped, they couldn't help but turn back to watch, feeling as if the rain deity had dispatched water dragons to suppress fire wolves. Zhou Botong was most intrigued. He tried to imitate her, but failed, and simply picked up a water vat and dumped it onto the fire.
Lin Chaoying caressed her damaged hair, scorched by the flames. After the soldiers retreated, Wang Shixiong immediately came to check on her. Upon seeing the scene, his nose stung, and with a pang of guilt, he sat down beside her. The moment he sat down, Lin Chaoying was startled to feel as if she were filled with his strength, finding a sense of reliance, but then felt a sense of being tied down. The night seemed to hold its breath, becoming even quieter as if afraid to disturb the two of them.
Yin, Wei, and Meng arrived together. Yin Pingzhi immediately stated, "The Jin soldiers are preparing to attack again, Mao Ya is acting like a madman!" His eyes fixed on Lin Chaoying. Meng Han Guang continued, "Even though our lives are worthless, the righteous warriors have already given their lives and are holding the line. But the civilians are also suffering immensely, worse than before they sought refuge with the stronghold!" Wang Shixiong said, "The civilians need to be relocated." Yin Pingzhi grumbled, "Where? Back to the deep caverns of the Qinling Mountains." Wang Shixiong asked, "Have you forgotten the purpose of the 'Shadow Stronghold'?" Wei Jietui replied, "That place has only just been opened up." Wang Shixiong said, "If we explain clearly to everyone and ask for their understanding and cooperation in building it, it shouldn't be a problem." Yin Pingzhi said, "To avoid any complications, let's brothers discuss it further in the council hall." Wang Shixiong had no choice but to let them leave.
As soon as he left, Lin Chaoying felt like a withered leaf about to fall, feeling an indescribable aversion. She paced around, trying to vent her pent-up frustration, thinking, "He would rather have his head cut off than feel this way..." She decided to return and confess to her grandmother.
After much thought, she found herself outside Granny Su's house. Granny Su, busy clearing things away, hurried over and said, "Come inside to wash up and rest." Without his warmth, it felt somewhat like her grandmother's kindness. Granny Su offered her a set of clothes. Lin Chaoying initially wanted to refuse, but seeing that they were black, she looked down at herself and changed into them. Granny Su took the discarded clothes. To prevent her from getting into trouble, Lin Chaoying said, "No need to wash them." Granny Su understood and asked, "Burn them in the stove?" Lin Chaoying hesitated for a moment before nodding. Granny Su said, "Sit down, let me fix your hair." Lin Chaoying sat in the chair, letting Granny Su undo her bun, trim it, and re-style it. Gou'er leaned by Lin Chaoying's feet, playing with pebbles he had found. Lin Chaoying looked at her bouncing pigtails, remembering her grandmother, and reached out to gently stroke them. After styling her hair, Granny Su said, "I've made some pastries, go and taste them." As she turned towards the stove, she heard Gou'er exclaim, "This is fun!" When she looked back, Lin Chaoying was gone.
Lin Chaoying found Mao Ya's troop encampment. Dressed again in her dark knight attire, she felt more grounded. Heading towards Mao Ya's command tent, she intended to confess her guilt and hoped to calm his "madness." Looking at the shadowy figures within the tent, her mind was suddenly moved, and she detoured to the back to eavesdrop.
Mao Ya was dispatching troops, saying, "Wang's bandits want to relocate the main force of the rebels to the so-called 'Shadow Stronghold,' making us waste our strength on an empty shell of a base. Nan, take the dark knights to annihilate the main resistance force first; I will personally lead the army to deal with the remnants."
Lin Chaoying thought for a moment and then quietly floated away. She circled the encampment, collected some supplies, and then departed.
According to the plan, Wang Yin was responsible for escorting the civilians to the "Shadow Stronghold," while Wei and Meng and others would remain at the stronghold to provide cover. As dusk fell in the dense forest, Lin Chaoying followed Wu Nanyong and his sword-wielding soldiers. Seeing them take a long and circuitous route, she became suspicious. Could it be a diversionary tactic? While pondering, she saw Wang Yin's convoy. The Wu team ahead suddenly disappeared. At this moment, she heard Yin Pingzhi exclaim, "Demoness, you've indeed brought a horde of demons!"
Lin Chaoying turned sharply. Behind her, another team of dark knights appeared and fired "Butterfly Love Flower Needles" at Wang Yin's convoy. These needles were divided into mother and child needles. The "flower needle," carrying barbs, was fired first to hit the target, and then the following "butterfly needle" would naturally pursue it densely, making it difficult to dodge and causing continuous injuries. Lin Chaoying threw the "Pine Needle Ball" from the "Private Manual," which was effective against these needles, knocking down most of the flower needles and disrupting the butterfly needles. The dark knights, aware of her prowess and identity, and with Wang Shixiong rushing to her aid, and their objective achieved, exchanged a dozen blows and then scattered.
Lin Chaoying asked, "You three agreed that Wei Jietui would stay and guard the stronghold?" Wang Shixiong nodded. Lin Chaoying sneered and floated towards the stronghold.
Meng Han Guang secretly followed Wei Jietui to the east gate of the stronghold. Seeing his actions were suspicious, as if plotting something, he couldn't help but appear and stop him, questioning him jokingly, "Brother Wei, you wouldn't open the east gate and let the Jin dogs crawl in, would you?" Wei Jietui replied with a smile, "Of course not, I just want... Brother Shixiong, how..." As Meng Han Guang turned to check, Wei Jietui struck lethally, his sword flashing out, targeting his temples, throat, and heart. Suddenly, a "squeak" came from behind. Wei Jietui dodged to the side, and a long needle grazed his face.
"After waiting for so long, you still haven't opened the main gate. General Mao Ya is getting impatient," Lin Chaoying said with a cold smile.
Wei Jietui retorted, "Demoness, don't try to sow discord!"
Lin Chaoying said, "This plan of 'giving to take' was taught to you by Mao Ya. The Jin soldiers were 'netted,' making it the perfect opportunity to infiltrate the stronghold and coordinate from within. You were so angry because I burned the nets and ruined things..."
Wei Jietui lunged left and right, attacking with feints and real moves, only spitting out, "Nonsense."
Lin Chaoying moved around, stepping in the four directions, and revealed, "Wen Yu is still in his hands."
Wei Jietui fell silent and attacked relentlessly with his sword. After a few exchanges, Wei Jietui saw an opening and thrust directly at her throat. Just as he was about to hit her, a sword came from the side and deflected it. "Brother Shixiong..."
Wang Shixiong, his face ashen, said, "Why did you betray us?" Wei Jietui, ashamed and angry, replied, "The moment you came here, Marshal Han let you decide everything. I was sold out by you long ago! I painstakingly spent over ten years of effort..." He covered his face and wept. Wang Shixiong stepped forward to comfort him, but Wei Jietui反手 swung his sword, aiming for his brow. The sword stopped two inches from Wang Shixiong's brow, and Wei Jietui slumped to the ground.
It turned out he had been run through the chest from behind by Lin Chaoying.
Seeing that he could not survive, Wang Shixiong couldn't bear it and held him. Wei Jietui, using his last strength, said, "I had an affair with a woman... named Wen Yu... she is carrying my... child... imprisoned by Jin..."
A righteous warrior rushed to report that the Jin army had seized the opportunity and broken through the west gate.
Despite Wang Shixiong's efforts to control his grief, his mind was filled with confusion, making his movements slightly disorganized. Lin Chaoying filled the gaps beside him and ordered Meng Han Guang and the others to retreat from behind. This was the first time the two of them fought side-by-side, but their swords were coordinated and precise. Lin Chaoying suppressed her growing delight, and Wang Shixiong also gradually focused on his movements. Wang, Lin, and Meng, with the remaining forces, fought and retreated to the dense forest of a distant tributary before finding a moment to breathe.
Guan Zumei, who had rushed to reinforce them from Nanyang with his troops, arrived early. With him taking responsibility for looking after the convoy migrating to the Shadow Stronghold, Wang Shixiong felt reassured and returned with Lin Chaoying to the stronghold to check on things and learn about Wei Jietui's situation. He had just received the report and came to meet them. Upon seeing Lin Chaoying, he was stunned for a moment, then asked, "Are you that Miss Lin?"
Lin Chaoying nodded slightly. Wang Shixiong turned his face slightly, daring not to look at her directly, and asked, "How are things on your end?" Guan Zumei glared at Lin Chaoying, then said, "Alas, the Jin dogs are relentless, and the demons are ruthless. Those who died have died, those who are injured are injured, and those who fled have fled. Only fewer than twenty households remain. Brother Yin is severely wounded, and his limbs may be crippled... I am truly incompetent..." He choked, unable to speak. Wang Shixiong also began to cry and said, "Marshal Han's hard work is ruined... He publicly said he would abdicate and yield the position, I truly... I never expected that it would sow the seeds of hatred..." Guan Zumei comforted him, "Brother Shixiong, your dedication of wealth and effort to develop the Qinling deep caverns and promote the anti-Jin forces in Nanyang is admirable. Firstly, responding to Marshal Han's urgent plea, his yielding to the capable truly shows his foresight and broad-mindedness. Alas, heaven does not grant us the time!" Wang Shixiong cried out to the sky, "Heaven! This place was originally a paradise of the Song dynasty, but now it is trampled by tyrannical soldiers. If you have no pity, I am ashamed to be beneath you and live with evil thieves!" Guan and Meng stepped forward to support and comfort him.
Lin Chaoying said, "Then let's escort the civilians across the border and let them live in the green skies of Song territory." Meng Han Guang asked, "Don't you know that according to the 'Treaty of Shaoxing,' those from the north who flee south are subject to punishment?" Guan Zumei said, "Let's tidy up and return to the Nanyang stronghold to make further plans." Wang Shixian said, "Everything depends on my brother's ideas."