No title, no marriage? Do you think I'm some kind of lapdog?

The eight words on the note were like eight icicles, piercing Su Chuang's heart.

The veteran from Luofengpo...died suddenly last night.

His knuckles turned white as he gripped the note, his mind went blank, his vision went black, and he swayed.

"Chuang?" Xu Mengran grabbed his arm, her voice urgent. "What happened? What's wrong?"

Su Chuang opened his mouth, but his throat felt like it was stuffed with cotton.

He didn't say anything.

She slowly raised her head, her face expression as if her soul had been ripped away, but her eyes were frighteningly cold—eyes Xu Mengran had never seen before, like a poisoned knife hidden beneath the ice.

"No...it's nothing," he managed to squeeze out, his voice hoarse.

Xu Mengran didn't believe it.

She glanced at the note. Although she couldn't see the contents clearly, she could feel that Su Chuang was tense, like a bowstring stretched to its limit.

"Are you really alright?" she pressed.

Su Chuang shook his head, put the note into his pocket, and moved very slowly, almost stiffly.

He turned and looked out the window.

The convoy continued forward, getting further and further away from Yumen Pass. The wind, carrying sand and gravel, lashed against the carts with a crackling sound.

Looking north to the terrace... there are still thirty li to go.

"Wenhe," Su Chuang suddenly spoke, his voice frighteningly calm.

Jia Xu reappeared outside the carriage window at some point, his gray cloth shirt fluttering in the wind: "My lord."

"Investigate," Su Chuang said, uttering only one word.

"How did he die? Who did it? Who's behind it? Get to the bottom of this."

Jia Xu bowed and said, "Yes, sir."

He didn't ask why, nor did he say another word. He turned around and disappeared into the sandstorm.

Su Chuang sat back in the car, leaned against the wall, and closed his eyes.

Xu Mengran looked at him, feeling a tightness in her chest.

She knew about Luofengpo—the place where Su Chuang's father, Su Zhenbei, died in battle. Over the years, Su Chuang never mentioned it, but the thorn in his heart had never been removed.

"Chuang..." she called softly.

Su Chuang didn't open his eyes, but simply reached out and took her hand.

My palms are cold.

Xu Mengran grabbed it with her other hand and squeezed it hard: "I'm here."

The carriage fell silent.

All that remained was the sound of wheels rolling over gravel and the howling wind outside the window.

Xu Mengran sat down next to Su Chuang, her shoulder pressed against his. She could feel that his body was tense, like a stone.

She didn't ask any more questions.

There are some things he doesn't want to talk about, so she doesn't ask.

But she can stay with him.

The convoy traveled for another half an hour.

As darkness fell, the distant mountain shadows blurred into a dark outline.

Su Chuang suddenly opened his eyes and turned to look at Xu Mengran.

Eyes facing each other.

Xu Mengran saw a faint trace of weariness hidden beneath the icy shell in his eyes, and... something she couldn't understand.

It felt like hatred, and also like pain.

"Sister Xu," he said, his voice low.

"Um?"

"You said..." Su Chuang paused, "If a person dies, is the truth buried forever?"

Xu Mengran's heart skipped a beat.

She squeezed his hand: "No."

"As long as there are people who remember and people who want to investigate, the truth will never be buried."

Su Chuang looked at her for a while, then suddenly smiled.

The smile was faint and lacked warmth, yet it brought a sense of relief to Xu Mengran—at least he could still smile.

"That's true." He let go, rubbed his face, and resumed his nonchalant demeanor. "As greedy as I am, I can't stand seeing others owe money and not pay it back."

"Blood debts must be repaid."

Xu Mengran laughed along, "That's more like you."

The atmosphere in the carriage eased a bit.

Su Chuang snuggled closer to her, his shoulder touching hers, and tilted his head to rest in the crook of her neck.

"Tired," he muttered.

Xu Mengran stiffened for a moment, then relaxed and let him lean on her.

She could smell the faint scent of soap on him, mixed with the earthy smell of wind and sand.

And... a very faint trace of blood.

"Go ahead," she said softly.

"Um?"

"When we get to Wangbeitai, I'll drink with you."

Su Chuang chuckled softly, "Drinking again? Last time at Hongyun Restaurant, you almost got me drunk."

"That's because I was letting you win." Xu Mengran raised an eyebrow.

"Wow, Sister Xu is so amazing?" Su Chuang looked up and squinted at her.

The two were face to face, very close to each other.

They were so close they could see the trembling of each other's eyelashes and feel each other's breath.

Xu Mengran's face felt a little hot.

She didn't dodge; instead, she moved closer, her nose almost touching Su Chuang's.

"What do you think?" she asked in a low voice, with a hint of provocation.

Su Chuang's Adam's apple bobbed.

He stared into her eyes, and his reflection shone brightly in those phoenix eyes, like stars.

"I said..." his voice was a little hoarse, "Sister Xu is the prettiest."

Xu Mengran smiled.

She reached out, her fingertips gently brushing across Su Chuang's cheek, down his jawline, stopping at his Adam's apple.

"They just know how to say nice things."

Su Chuang grabbed her hand and held it in his palm.

"It's not just talk," he lowered his head, bringing his lips closer to hers, "it can also..."

Before he could finish speaking...

"My lord!"

Suddenly, Yue Fei's voice came from outside the car, carrying a hint of urgency.

Su Chuang paused.

Xu Mengran quickly shrank back, her face flushed.

Su Chuang took a deep breath, released her hand, and lifted the car curtain: "What's wrong?"

Yue Fei, mounted on his horse, had a solemn expression. He pointed his spear northwest: "There are lights three miles ahead."

"How many people?" Su Chuang asked.

"We can't see clearly, but the flames are dense, indicating at least a hundred people are moving towards us."

Su Chuang's eyes turned cold.

A veteran has just died, and now someone is blocking the way?

He turned to look at Xu Mengran.

Xu Mengran had already drawn her sword, her eyes sharp: "Friend or foe?"

Yue Fei shook his head: "I don't know."

Su Chuang remained silent for three breaths, then suddenly grinned.

There was a hint of ruthlessness in that smile.

"Who cares if he's a friend or foe?"

"Pass down the order—"

His voice wasn't loud, but it rang clearly in the wind:

"The Mo Dao Guards lead the way, while the Flying Tiger Army protects the flanks."

"If they are bandits, chop them up and feed them to the wolves."

"in the case of……"

He paused, a cold glint flashing in his eyes:

"If they were sent by certain people to 'see you off'..."

"Then don't let any of them escape."

The words fell.

The distant flames grew closer, and the sound of horses' hooves rolled in like muffled thunder.

In the darkness, someone held a torch and shouted:

"Is that Lord Su Chuang, the Duke of Xin, ahead?"

"My master invites you—"