Remarried to a top-tier playboy, her reborn ex-husband is filled with regret.

The remains of the Prince of Zhenbei were cremated on the sand dunes of Pingge Beach.

The firewood was piled up by Xiao Fang himself.

Unable to find any decent timber in the Gobi Desert, he led his personal guards to dismantle the abandoned tent fences of the Northern Hu people.

They also chopped up the saddles of the fallen warhorses and burned them as firewood.

The pile of firewood was more than half a person high, and he put his father on it.

He then took off his own black cloak and covered his father with it.

Then he took the torch from the lieutenant.

The torches were heavy, and the linen soaked in pine resin crackled as it burned.

Sparks splattered on the back of his hand, burning several white spots, but he didn't flinch.

He stood in front of the woodpile for a long time.

So long that the eight hundred remaining soldiers behind him thought he would cry.

But he didn't.

He tossed the torch onto the pile of firewood with a blank expression, watching the flames engulf his father's face inch by inch.

It swallowed the deep, bone-revealing knife wound, and swallowed the eyes that had already closed.

Thick smoke billowed into the sky, resembling a black pillar in the vast twilight of the northern desert, lingering for a long time.

Xiao Fang knelt before the fire, kowtowed three times, then stood up and took a celadon jar from his personal guard.

They carefully placed their father's ashes into the container, handful by handful.

The ashes were still warm, and through the thin glaze of the porcelain urn, they burned his palm.

He placed the porcelain jar into a thin coffin that the Prince of Zhenbei had prepared for himself long ago.

He closed the coffin lid and personally carved the character "Xiao" on it.

Then he turned around and faced the dark mass of mournful soldiers behind him.

The surviving soldiers, their armor tattered, covered in blood, their eyes bloodshot.

They watched as their young general knelt before the fire and kowtowed.

Watching the young general place the old prince's ashes into a porcelain jar.

Watching the young general stand up and pull out the silver spear covered in blood.

Xiao Fang mounted his horse, his silver spear pointing north.

"My father is gone."

His voice wasn't loud, but it swept through everyone's ears like a north wind.

"The Northern Hu people owe us a life. We must get our money back!"

Everyone roared in unison, their voices echoing across the Gobi Desert.

"A blood debt must be paid in blood!"

"A blood debt must be paid in blood!"

Deputy General Zhou Chong strode up to Xiao Fangma.

He lowered his voice and spoke very quickly.

"Your Highness, our new provisions haven't arrived yet. If we use the existing provisions slowly, they can last for another month."

However, if the main army sets out, it can only supply supplies for ten days at most.

No sooner had he finished speaking than another veteran stepped forward.

He was the deputy commander of the infantry under the Prince of Zhenbei, his face weathered and his eyes filled with sorrow.

"Your Highness, our northern defense line is extremely long, with more than a dozen passes, and we must defend each one."

When the prince was alive, he always used 300,000 men to guard various places.

If any part of it is breached, the people of the surrounding prefectures and counties will suffer.

If too many troops are hastily redeployed, I fear the rear will become unstable.

Xiao Fang remained silent for a few moments.

He rode on his horse, while the mournful soldiers behind him continued to roar, their swords and spears still drawn, their cries still echoing.

The north wind, carrying the scent of blood and dust, rushed in, making his robes flutter loudly.

He spoke, his voice low, yet as cold as a blade.

"We mobilized 100,000 men to guard more than a dozen passes."

The rest, all assembled.

We must strike them hard while they are retreating, giving them no chance to catch their breath.

Then he looked at the quartermaster.

"Prepare all the provisions and supplies, enough for ten days."

Tomorrow morning, I will depart with the army.

The quartermaster and Zhou Chong exchanged a glance.

Both of them moved their throats, but neither of them tried to persuade the other.

They saw the resolute look in Xiao Fang's eyes all too clearly.

At this moment, saying even one more word would be defying the late Prince's dying wish.

The two bowed deeply and clasped their hands in a fist salute.

"This subordinate obeys."

Xiao Fang didn't look at them again.

He summoned Mingrui, selected a few of his father's personal guards, and led over a hundred cavalrymen out of the camp.

"Come with me."

Mingrui didn't ask where they were going, he just picked up his horse and followed.

Xiao Fang said coldly.

"Go to the coal mines in northern Mongolia."

The coal mines in northern Mongolia were built in a gray, gloomy mountain valley.

When Xiao Fang arrived with his men, the sky was already reflecting the glow of the setting sun.

Outside the coal mine were several mud houses with peeling paint, and a servant sat dozing at the door.

The sound of hooves jolted the constable awake. He opened his eyes to see a dark mass of cavalry and was so frightened that he fell off his bench.

Xiao Fang dismounted, but did not rush inside.

He stood beside the horse, raised his hand to dust off the dust on the hem of his clothes, and his gaze swept coolly over the kiln entrance.

Mingrui strode forward and kicked away the half-broken wooden plank blocking the doorway.

His voice wasn't loud, but it was firm and unyielding.

"Where are the Gu family members locked up?"

The steward was running out of the house, not even having time to put on his shoes properly, when he heard this, he was taken aback.

He looked up and saw Xiao Fang behind Mingrui.

The man was dressed in red, with dark red bloodstains on his cuffs. A silver spear hung on his saddle, and his eyes were so cold they sent chills down one's spine.

The steward's legs went weak, and he dared not ask any more questions, repeatedly agreeing.

"Yes, yes, yes, it's inside! I'll lead the way right away!"

He stumbled and ran inside, not even having time to grab an extra torch.

The kiln opening was narrow, dark, and stuffy.

The air was filled with coal dust and a musty smell, making it hard to open one's eyes.

The firelight shone down, and Xiao Fang saw several people.

Those people are no longer like humans.

They huddled on the hay in the corner, their faces, necks, and hands covered in black coal dust.

Her hair was matted into clumps, dry and drooping over her forehead.

His lips were split open, and his fingernails were filled with black coal dust.

The youngest were seventeen or eighteen years old, their skeletons hadn't fully developed, and their shoulder blades protruded high.

Hearing the noise, they first numbly looked up, then lowered their heads again.

These people were the illegitimate sons and collateral branches of the Gu family.

The old and the young had long since died on the road to exile.

Only these young and strong individuals have made it this far alive.

To be alive is merely to still be able to breathe.

Xiao Fang looked at them, his face expressionless.

"Tie them all up."

The soldiers were already red-eyed.

Upon hearing the order, they immediately pounced on it.

Before those people could even understand what was happening, several soldiers had already grabbed their arms.

Upon seeing this, the manager broke out in a cold sweat.

He steeled himself and took two steps forward, bending over.

"Your Highness, these people are all registered slaves under the Ministry of Justice. You're just taking them away like that..."

"I really don't know how to explain this to my superiors!"

Xiao Fang didn't move, and didn't even glance at the steward.

He coldly uttered only two words.

"Get out of the way."

The person in charge turned pale instantly.

Xiao Fang's gaze was like a knife tip pressed against his brow.

He shuddered and dared not utter another word. He hurriedly stepped aside and waved for the constables to get out of the way.

"Get out of the way! Everyone get out of the way!"

The soldiers, now without any restraint, dragged the men out of the haystack one by one.

The movements were extremely rough, like dragging a four-legged animal.

Those Gu family scions finally became afraid.

They didn't know what was happening; all they knew was that they were being tortured to death by a group of soldiers exuding murderous intent.

Some people began to struggle and beg for mercy.

"Sir! Sir, spare my life!"

"We didn't do anything! We've been digging coal in the mine every day, we don't even know what it's like outside!"

No one cares about him.

Annoyed by his shouting, a soldier swung his knife and struck him on the back of the neck.

The man groaned and went limp.

The soldiers worked quickly and efficiently, binding the people's hands behind their backs and stringing them together.

As they were dragged out of the kiln, the people shielded their eyes with their hands when the clear sunlight shone through them.

The sunlight was like a knife, cutting into their faces that had never seen the sun.

Some of the more timid ones had their trouser legs soaked and were sobbing softly.

Some of the bolder ones secretly looked around, trying to find a way to run away.

But the gate was full of soldiers, their swords and spears gleaming, like an iron wall.

They were led out like livestock.

Xiao Fang mounted his horse and looked ahead.

"take away."

Mingrui waved his hand, and the soldiers pulled on the ropes, dragging the man out of the coal mine.

The Gu family members stumbled and fell behind, their cries and pleas for mercy coming in fits and starts.

Not a single soldier showed mercy.

Even glancing at them felt superfluous.

The old prince is dead.

Many brothers also died.

And someone has to pay for this blood debt first.