All the heroes of the world are now in my grasp.

On the third day after the snow cleared, the mountain path leading from the valley entrance to the outside world was finally completely cleared.

The entrance to Yongming's valley was bustling with activity. His personal guards led two magnificent horses, their backs already adorned with thick fur saddlecloths. The packs on the sides of the horses were stuffed with dried rations, dried meat, and warm clothing. The generous gifts that Liu Yao had specially prepared were also neatly bundled up, all of them the finest items from the grasslands—tanned, top-quality fox fur, dried mutton, two full leather pouches of mare's milk wine, and ten excellent ox horn bows, all neatly arranged on the accompanying packhorses.

Gao Zidan changed into a neat and tidy outfit, with a ring-pommel sword given to her by Liu Yao at her waist. She stood in front of the horse, checking the luggage with Han Xin. Han Xin remained as reserved and dutiful as ever, carefully checking the items in the baggage and the saddle straps. He didn't say a word throughout the process, but did his job perfectly.

According to Gao Zidan, it would be enough for just him and Han Xin to go on this trip; having more people would only attract attention and easily draw the attention of the patrolling soldiers along the way. Liu Yao tried to persuade him several times to send more guards, but seeing his firm attitude, he stopped insisting and just made sure that everything he could prepare was properly prepared.

"Is everything packed?" Liu Yao strode over, patted Gao Zidan on the shoulder, and laughed in a rough voice, "I've prepared everything you need for the journey, as well as the gift for Zhou Bo. It's all according to your wishes—not ostentatious, but not stingy either. I guarantee it won't tarnish the Gao family's reputation."

"Thank you for your trouble, Chanyu." Gao Zidan bowed and expressed his gratitude sincerely. In the past half month in Yongming tribe, if it weren't for Liu Yao's protection, he would have died in the chaos of the soldiers and the snowstorm. He would always remember this life-saving grace.

Liu Yao waved his hand, said nothing more, mounted his horse, gave a few instructions to the leaders behind him, and then gestured with his chin to Gao Zidan and Han Xin: "Come on, I'll take you to the main road."

The three men and three horses slowly emerged from the valley entrance of Yongming County and headed south along the cleared mountain path. The snow-covered wilderness was a vast expanse of white, and the sunlight shining on the snow was so bright that it was hard to open one's eyes. Only the sound of horses' hooves crunching on the snow could be heard, and all around was very quiet.

They traveled in silence until they reached a fork in the road. Ahead lay the official road leading to Bingzhou, while to the left was the valley leading back to Yongming. Only then did Liu Yao rein in his horse and stop.

This is where we part ways.

Gao Zidan reined in his horse, preparing to bow and bid farewell, but Liu Yao spoke first. His smile vanished, replaced by an unprecedentedly solemn expression. Looking at Gao Zidan, he slowly asked, "Young Master Gao, will you return?"

Gao Zidan was suddenly stunned.

From the time they met until now, Liu Yao has always called him "boy," which is casual and affectionate. On very rare occasions, he has formally called himself "Young Master Gao."

This address was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, instantly creating ripples in his heart.

He instinctively gripped the reins, countless thoughts racing through his mind. In fact, before setting off, he had privately discussed with Han Xin that it was impossible to meet Zhou Bo and Liu Yao's demand for "tacit consent to occupy the two counties of Xihe Commandery." At most, he could only do his best to secure provisions, salt, iron, and passage for the Yongming tribe to repay this life-saving grace.

Moreover, as a scion of the powerful Gao clan of Bohai, burdened with the blood feud of his entire family's extermination, he couldn't simply spend his life holed up in the mountains, eking out a living with the Xiongnu tribe. His trip to see Zhou Bo was partly to serve the Yongming tribe, but also to see if Zhou Bo could offer him shelter. If he could gain access to Zhou Bo and establish a connection with Liu Bang, he might have a chance to realize his ambitions.

But he couldn't tell Liu Yao these thoughts directly.

Liu Yao's question was too direct, so direct that he instantly found himself in an awkward position. If he said he would come back, it would be a lie; but if he said he might not come back, he was afraid that Liu Yao would turn on him on the spot and detain him, preventing him from leaving.

He opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word. He could only silently rein in his horse, and the atmosphere instantly became tense.

A cold wind swirled snowflakes across the open fields, and the horses' hooves paved the snow restlessly beneath their feet, making soft, crunching sounds.

Finally, Liu Yao broke the silence. Looking at Gao Zidan's troubled expression, he suddenly smiled, his tone softening, and added, "These past few days, I've seen you going door-to-door helping the elderly and weak in the valley chop wood, carry water, shovel snow, and clear roads, taking care of those people with all your heart. I thought you were planning to repay me with these things and never come back."

It turns out he had seen it all.

Gao Zidan felt a sense of relief, and the anxiety that had been hanging over him finally subsided. He looked at the seemingly rough but actually meticulous Xiongnu Chanyu before him, remained silent for a moment, and finally decided to speak frankly and no longer conceal anything.

He bowed deeply to Liu Yao, his tone sincere, every word coming from the bottom of his heart: "Shanyu, I, Gao Zidan, will never forget your life-saving grace to the Yongming tribe. What I did in the valley before was nothing but a trivial matter, far from enough to repay you. On this trip to see Uncle Zhou, I will do my utmost to find a safe way out for the Yongming tribe, and I will never let down the Shanyu's trust."

He paused, raised his head, met Liu Yao's gaze, and continued, "As for whether I will return or not, to be honest, I don't know. I bear the deep-seated hatred of the blood feud that wiped out my entire clan. Now that the world is in chaos and things are unpredictable, I must first do my best to avenge them and do what I should do. So whether I can return after this departure depends on how things develop. I cannot give the Chanyu a definite answer right now."

"But there is one thing I can assure the Chanyu," he said with unwavering conviction. "Whether I return in the future or not, and wherever I may be, I will always remember the great kindness of the Chanyu and the Yongming tribe."

The cold wind swept across the wilderness, fluttering his coat. His words were clear and distinct, falling into the snow without a trace of falsehood.

Liu Yao stared at him for a long time, then suddenly burst into laughter, a laugh full of the hearty spirit of a man from the grasslands. He knew this kid was an honest man, incapable of telling empty lies.

"Good! That's enough!" He raised his hand and patted Gao Zidan's shoulder with force. "You've chosen your own path. Whether you seek revenge or conquer the world, I, Liu Yao, won't stop you. The gates of Yongming Tribe will always be open for you. Whenever you want to come back, there will always be a hot meal and a tent for you in the valley."

As he spoke, he reached up and untied a wolf-tooth talisman hanging from his waist, handing it to Gao Zidan: "Take this. It's the token of the Yongming tribe. Every tribe along the border of Bingzhou and Yunzhou recognizes this. If you run into trouble, show it to them, and no one will dare to touch you."

Gao Zidan accepted the warm wolf-tooth talisman, feeling its weight in his hand and a mix of emotions welling up inside him. He bowed deeply to Liu Yao, saying, "Thank you, Chanyu."

"Alright, let's get going." Liu Yao waved his hand, turned his horse around, and said, "Come back soon. I'll be waiting for your news in the valley."

Gao Zidan nodded, said no more, turned his horse around, and gestured with his chin to Han Xin beside him. The two of them spurred their horses and headed south along the official road leading to Bingzhou.

The horse's hooves pounded the snow as it rode further and further away. Gao Zidan reined in his horse and looked back, seeing Liu Yao still standing at the crossroads in the distance, his figure like a steadfast mountain in the vast white snow.

He took a deep breath, turned his head, faced the cold wind, and spurred his horse forward.