甲士粼粼，如过江之鲫。

艳阳天高照，江心洲畔树荫下的一群劲装皮甲之人正在抱怀来看江中舟船与洲上道路往来不停的甲士，各自面色铁青。这些人，皆是真火教骨干，而面前的甲士如流赫然是所谓黜龙帮对大梁的新...

JiangZhiqingstoodattheedgeoftheriver,gazingoutattheboatsandshipsmakingtheirwayupriver.Thesunbeatdownonhisface,itsintenseheatawelcomerespitefromthechillofthenightbefore.Hewasdressedinfullarmor,hisarmorpolishedtoamirrorfinishbytheskilledhandsofhiscomrades.

Ashewatched,agroupofsoldiersemergedfromthetreesandbegantomovetowardshim.TheywerehisfellowmembersoftheFireTigerBrigade,theirfacessetwithdeterminationandtheireyesnarrowedagainstthesun.Eachonewasaveteranwarrior,havingfoughtcountlessbattlesalongsideJiangZhiqingintheiryearsaspartoftheFireTigerBrigade.

Thegroupdrewcloser,theirmovementsfluidandpracticed,likeawell-oiledmachine.Theywereallarmedtotheteeth,theirswordsandspearsattheready.JiangZhiqing‘seyesflickedbetweenthem,hismindracingwiththoughtsofthemissionahead.

“Whereareweheaded?“oneofthesoldiersasked,hisvoicelowandeven.

“Totheoldcity,“Jiangreplied,hisjawclenchedinatightsmile.“Weneedtogettherebeforenightfall.“

Thegroupnodded,theirfacessetwithresolve.Theykneasatstakehere-notjusttheirownlives,buttheveryfutureoftheirbrigadeandtheentireFireTigerBrigade.

Astheyapproachedtheriverbank,JiangZhiqingspottedafigurestandingonthefarshore,watchingthemapproach.ItwasLiQingwen,hiseyesnarrowedsuspiciouslyashetookinthesightoftheapproachingsoldiers.

“Ah,goodtoseeyou,“Lisaid,hisvoicedrippingwithsarcasm.“Iseeyou‘restillaliveandkicking.“

Jiangrolledhiseyes,awrysmilespreadingacrosshisface.“Li,alwayssoquickwiththeinsults.What‘sitgoingtotakeforyoutocrackarealsmile?“

Liraisedaneyebrow,hisexpressionunreadable.“I‘llgiveyouasmilewhenIseesomegenuineprogressaroundhere.“

Jiangsighedinwardly,rubbingthebackofhisneckinfrustration.HeknewthatLiwasstillholdingontohisoldideals,clingingtothemlikealifelineevenashestruggledwiththeharshrealitiesoftheirnewworld.

Buthealsoknewthathecouldn‘tletLi‘sdoubtsbringhimdown.Theyhadamissiontocomplete,andnothingwasgoingtostandintheirway.

Thegroupreachedtheriverbank,theireyesscanningthehorizonforanysignofdanger.JiangZhiqingspottedaboatmakingitswayupstream,itsoccupantshuddledtogetherlikerabbitsinasack.

“Lookslikewe‘vegotsomecompany,“oneofhissoldiersmuttered.

Jiang‘shandwenttothehiltofhissword,hisgriptighteningashewatchedtheapproachingboat.Hecouldseethatitwaspackedwithcivilians,theirfaceswhiteandterrifiedastheyclungtowhateverwouldkeepthemafloat.

Withouthesitation,JiangZhiqingturnedtoLiandtheothers.“Alright,let‘sgetmoving.Weneedtofindasafeplaceforthesepeoplebeforethingsgetanyworse.“

Linodded,hisexpressionsofteningeversoslightly.“I‘lltakepoint,“hesaid,drawinghisswordwithafluidmotion.

Thegroupfannedout,theirmovementspracticedandpreciseastheymovedthroughthedenseundergrowth.JiangZhiqingbroughtuptherear,hiseyesscanningthehorizonforanysignofdanger.

Astheywalked,thesoundsofcivilizationgrewfainter,replacedbythecallsofbirdsandtherustlingofleaves.Theywereheadingintotheheartofnowherenow,whereonlythebravest-ormostfoolhardy-adventurersdaredtotread.

ButJiangZhiqingwasnofool.Hehadfaceddowndeathmoretimesthanhecouldcount,andcomeoutontopeverytime.Heknewthatthismissionwascrucial,notjustforhisownsurvival,butfortheentireFireTigerBrigade.

Hepushedthroughathicketofbrambles,hisswordattheready.Asheemergedintoasmallclearing,hespottedafigurewaitingforthem-anoldmanwithalongwhitebeardandeyesthatseemedtoseerightthroughhim.

“Welcome,youngJiangZhiqing,“theoldmansaid,hisvoicedrippingwithwisdom.“I‘vebeenexpectingyou.“

Jiang‘sgriponhisswordtightened,hismindracingwithquestions.Whowasthisoldman?Whatdidhewant?

Butbeforehecouldaskanyofthem,theoldmanspokeupagain.

“You‘rerunningoutoftime,“hesaid,hiseyesglintinginthesunlight.“TheShadowEmperorwillstopatnothingtocrushyourbrigade.ButIcanhelpyou...foraprice.“

Jiang‘seyesnarrowed,hismindracingwithpossibilities.Whatdidthisoldmanwant?Andwhatcouldhepossiblyofferinreturn?

Butashelookedintotheoldman‘seyes,hesawsomethingtherethatgavehimpause-aglimmerofhope.