Amidst the struggle for supremacy in Qian, a trap was laid and the commander was imprisoned; the conquest of Baling sowed discord between brothers, breeding deep resentment.

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"Le Bu Dao!"
"At your service!"
"You and Huangfu Heng take two swift horses and deliver this item to the King of Jingzhou!" Ji Shi said as he handed over a brocade pouch.
"I will not fail this mission!"

Shortly after Le Bu Dao left, a fair and delicate young scholar was led in by two soldiers. "General Ji, the person you requested has arrived!"
"Hmm, you may leave now." "Yes!"

"Raise your head!" With that, the young man slowly lifted his head. His fingers were slender as scallion roots, lips like vermilion, and his eyes held the tender gentleness of autumn waters, his skin as white as snow.

Ji Shi was stunned. "You... you’re a man?" He could hardly believe his eyes. "Do you still have that?"
"Have what?" The young man asked in a hoarse voice, looking puzzled.

"My word, a mute new ‘bride’!" Ji Shi was even more shocked. After a moment’s thought, he asked, "What is your name?"
"Reporting to the general, I am a young man surnamed Ge, called Lao, with the courtesy name Daibiao."

"Ah! What a fine name!" Ji Shi gave him a wry look. "Enough. Do you know why you were brought here?"
"No idea."

"Do you know a general under the King of Zhongshan named Chi Ji?"
Upon hearing this, Ge Lao’s eyes suddenly lit up. "Who did you say? Chi Ji? Brother Chi? I really adore him. Why do you ask?"

Ji Shi was startled by this and quickly stepped back, giving Ge Lao a strange look.
"General Ji, don’t be afraid. I only have eyes for Chi Ji. His invincible bearing, his effortless presence on the battlefield—I truly want to dedicate myself to him!" With that, he gazed dreamily at the ceiling, lost in his fantasies.

"Alright, you may leave for now. I’ll have someone explain the details later. Just make sure to complete your task!" Ji Shi was eager to see him go.

With a twist of his body, Ge Lao slowly walked out. Watching his retreating figure, Ji Shi felt a chill run down his spine. "I thought there might be trouble, but if Chi Ji really is Chi Lao, then success is guaranteed. Even if not, I’m sure he’ll be captivated—provided he plays the role of the mute new ‘bride’ well!"

"General Jia, you personally deliver some instructions to him and make sure he swallows this insect gu poison. Otherwise, I’m afraid his love for Chi Ji will be too deep to act! And don’t mess up—that’s a precious item I only just exchanged with a Miao merchant!" Ji Shi smiled wickedly at Jia Kang.

Recalling that graceful figure, Jia Kang shuddered but grudgingly accepted the insect gu from Ji Shi’s hand, his expression sour as he left.

That day, at the hour of Shen, a small boat carrying a 'beauty' clad in a blue misty gauze skirt departed from Huangling Ferry in Jiangcheng, heading toward Lingji Ferry in Baling City.

Before long, all the Baling garrison knew their General Chi had found his "soulmate," staying inside his room all day. Servants passing by could even hear hoarse singing from within!

Six days later, Le Bu Dao and Huangfu Heng returned from Jingzhou bearing good news.

Looking at the letter from the King of Jingzhou before him, Ji Shi smiled with satisfaction. "Le Bu Dao!"

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"At your service!"
"Reorganize the army. At the hour of Si tomorrow, assemble at the ferry!"

He then looked at Jia Kang. "Keep in contact with Ge Lao. He’s the most crucial link. No mistakes!"
"Don’t worry. With the insect gu, there’s no way he’ll betray us."

Ji Shi smiled. "Love is a limitless power!"

On the twenty-first day of the second month, thirty thousand troops gathered at three ferry points in Jiangcheng, boarding ships bound for Baling. The fleet stretched for miles, flags blanketing the sky. Ji Shi stood on the ship, gazing at the misty expanse over the Cangwu River and recited a poem with pride:

Let us drink and sing, for life is brief!
Like morning dew, fleeting and bitterly short.
With fervor and passion, my worries linger.
What relieves sorrow? Only joy and mirth.
Your deep blue robes linger in my heart.
For your sake, I ponder endlessly.
Deer bleat softly in the wild grass.
With honored guests, I strum the zither and play the flute.
Bright as the moon, when can I grasp you?
Worries come unbidden, impossible to sever.
Crossing fields and paths, vain are our meetings.
Conversations and feasts recall old kindness.
The moon shines bright yet sparse stars appear,
Crows and magpies fly southward.
Circling the trees thrice, which branch to rest upon?
Mountains never tire of height, seas never tire of depth,
General Ji welcomes all with open arms, and the world turns its heart to him.

—Such majestic spirit indeed!

Meanwhile, in Jingzhou, twenty thousand soldiers under Deng Fu boarded ships at the port, heading toward Baling. Behind them, King Li Kangjia of Jingzhou watched the departing army with a complex expression. "Ji Shi, I hope you can accomplish this."

At dusk in Baling, a brilliant sunset stained the horizon orange, reflecting off the shimmering Cangwu River. Villagers, weary but content, carried their day’s harvest and began journeying home. The streets filled with the scent of cooking fires and fresh meals.

In the distance, a dark mass of warships approached Lingji Ferry like colossal beasts. Masts rose tall, sails billowed, and their hulls glowed golden with a sinister red hue under the setting sun. Soldiers stood ready, armor gleaming cold in the fading light. The distant beat of war drums foretold an impending storm.

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The two armies converged at Lingji Ferry, surging like a tide to launch a fierce assault on the city. Shouts and drumbeats thundered, dust billowed, iron hooves shattered paving stones, and the clash of blades rang out nonstop.

Inside, the thirty thousand defenders scrambled to respond, but the advantage was lost. The attacking force rolled forward like a storm, unstoppable, sweeping relentlessly toward the city lord’s mansion. Torches blazed fiercely, turning night to day as the gates groaned under heavy blows. Fear and despair etched into the defenders’ faces.

"Where is General Chi? Our General Chi! He will lead us to break through!" some soldiers shouted. But would General Chi really come? After all, the singing from Chi Ji’s room could be heard day and night without pause.

In the dimly lit room, flickering candlelight revealed Chi Ji bound to a chair, his defiant spirit unbroken. His eyes burned with anger and unwillingness, like a trapped lion ready to break free. Jia Kang stood nearby with a cold smile, the insect gu flickering mysteriously on his fingertips. Unbeknownst to him, this man might be none other than the adopted son of the former King of Jiangnan, Chi Lao!

Ge Lao, once deeply enamored with Chi Ji, now moved like a puppet under Jia Kang’s control, tightly restraining Chi Ji. Her eyes were vacant, devoid of emotion, mechanically following orders. Chi Ji struggled against the ropes in vain.

"Beauty Chi Shi, you’re playing with fire!" Chi Ji’s voice was hoarse but resolute. He knew this was all Ji Shi’s scheme. Having been reborn, he did not want to ally with Ji Shi, especially with the words of the mysterious black-clad Kun Sheng Emperor echoing in his mind: "Our crossing over, you, me, and the others—all this is Ji Shi’s fault. Without him, none of this would be."

The last word eluded him, as if silenced by heaven and earth. Even Kun Sheng Emperor sensed the danger. "The cause and effect are too great; look into it slowly in time." Then he was reborn in the body of a mad youth in Star City, later joining the King of Zhongshan’s service, as he does now.

Night blanketed Baling, flames lighting the sky. Without Chi Ji’s leadership, the defenders scattered like headless flies, morale shattered. Ji Shi’s army swept in like a flood of beasts, leaving ruin and blood on their path.

Six hours of fierce battle left the ancient city devastated—a tragic tableau of smoke and dust. On the ramparts, Ji Shi clad in armor and wielding a long sword, eyes blazing, watched his soldiers fight with courage. A victorious smile curved his lips.

Baling, once as steadfast as rock, had finally fallen under Ji Shi’s iron hand, becoming another stepping stone on his path to conquest.

Dawn’s first light brushed the sky with soft mist, the eastern horizon glowing faintly, mountains serene and peaceful.

After ordering the army to regroup, Ji Shi headed to Chi Ji’s quarters.

Entering the dim room, candlelight flickered over Chi Ji’s resolute face, his once cunning eyes now clouded with complexity.

Ji Shi approached slowly, his gaze piercing as if seeking the familiar yet distant shadow of Chi Lao. He reached out, gently brushing Chi Ji’s cheek, feeling coldness and stiffness beneath his fingertips. Ji Shi’s heart wavered—is this truly Chi Lao? The senior brother who once trailed behind him, smiling brightly?

He sighed and told Jia Kang to take Ge Lao away. After the door closed, he said, "I know you are Chi Lao. Perhaps something has caused a rift between us, but I believe it can be resolved."

With Chi Ji’s shocked eyes upon him, Ji Shi untied the ropes binding him. "Go. I hope the day we meet again will not be with swords drawn."

"You are mistaken. Chi Lao is dead. Now there is only Chi Ji!" With that, Chi Ji leapt out the window. Watching his retreating form, Ji Shi bitterly muttered, "It seems I no longer have family in this world." Shaking his head, he slowly pushed the door open and stepped outside.

Outside, Jia Kang, seeing him alone, glanced inside to find Chi Ji gone. "You let him go?" he asked Ji Shi.

"I don’t know what secret technique he used, but he vanished before me!" Without waiting for Jia Kang’s response, Ji Shi turned and left.

Jia Kang stood still, watching Ji Shi’s lonely figure, eyes narrowing. "Looks like I’ll have to return to Yuhang."

He looked down at the languid Ge Lao on the ground, about to leave, but reconsidered with a scornful expression and hoisted him up to follow.