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The two had waited in the inn for another two days, marking the seventh day since Xiong Yanbi and Zu Dashow had gone to Hetuala, yet there was still no news of them. That night, a dim crescent moon hung above the stark poplar tree in front of the inn, making the sky seem darker and the clouds lower. The cold wind outside blew fiercely, and a chilling howl echoed through the air, startling everyone inside as they realized the wolf pack was approaching again. The Innkeeper hurriedly instructed the guests in each room to light poplar branches and surround the inn with them. After completing this task, everyone quickly returned to their rooms. As the howls of wolves rose and fell, the pack soon arrived with a ferocious roar. Yu Jiangong noticed that this time the pack was even larger than before; all he could see in the darkness were ferocious wolves. Many of them anxiously circled around the fire. One wolf, unable to resist, leaped over the fire circle and jumped inside. Just as Yu Jiangong shot this wolf dead with a bamboo arrow, several more wolves jumped over the fire circle, causing some guests in their rooms to scream in fear. Yu Jiangong shouted, "Everyone stay calm and throw out the lit branches!" Hearing his voice, the guests acted quickly without thinking further, lighting branches and throwing them out of the windows. Some branches landed on the wolves, filling the air with a burnt smell. Although the burning branches slowed down the wolves' advance, more and more ferocious wolves charged through the fire circle. Yu Jiangong shot arrows like locusts at the wolves; however, it was still difficult to resolve the crisis. One wolf jumped over the fire circle and quickly circled around several burning branches toward the window of the second room on the east side. Inside that room, a woman and a child could be heard crying. Just as Yu Jiangong shot another wolf dead, he had no time to nock another arrow to shoot this one. In a critical moment, Han Ying shot an iron dart from her hand, hitting the wolf squarely in its throat and killing it instantly.
It turned out that Han Ying was worried about her husband's safety; while Yu Jiangong was shooting wolves by the window, she had been standing beside him all along, holding an iron dart in her hand as a precaution. Yu Jiangong turned back to his wife with a grateful smile, and Han Ying immediately met his gaze with tenderness. She quietly reminded him, "These wolves are not easy to deal with; I wonder why they aren't eating their own kind like last time?" Yu Jiangong replied, "The actions of wolf packs follow certain rules; perhaps after their last retreat they reflected on their failures and decided to unite against their enemies this time." While they spoke, their hands did not stop; iron darts and bamboo arrows rained down upon the wolves. The pack feared the power of Yu Jiangong's arrows and darts and dared not approach the western guest rooms but focused their attack on those in the east. Han Ying soon ran out of iron darts, leaving only Yu Jiangong fighting alone. Despite his quickness and accuracy with arrows, he still couldn't match the speed of the wolves' assault. Just as one wolf was about to leap into the first room on the east side, an iron arrow suddenly flew from behind the pack and pinned it firmly against the door of that room. Then there was a commotion at the back of the dark mass of wolves; amidst two long neighs from horses, Yu Jiangong and Han Ying vaguely saw two horses behind the pack illuminated by torches outside. Two figures were riding them—one wielding a large knife fiercely slashing at the wolves while another brandished a longsword continuously cutting, stabbing, and chopping at them. The wolf pack scattered in fear of these sharp blades.
Yu Jiangong called out to them from within: "Are you Xiong Yanbi and Zu Dashow?" The man wielding the large knife answered from afar, "Indeed! Are you Yu Jiangong?" Overjoyed, Yu Jiangong replied, "Brother! I am Jian Gong; I have finally been waiting for you and Brother Zu!" As they spoke, Xiong Yanbi and Zu Dashow's horses leaped into the fire circle; they swung their weapons fiercely against the ferocious wolves within, causing blood to fly and corpses to litter the ground. The arrival of Xiong Yanbi and Zu Dashow invigorated both Yu Jiangong and Han Ying. Yu Jiangong said to Han Ying, "Sister Ying, stay inside; I will go outside to fight alongside Brother Xiong and Brother Zu." Han Ying cautioned him, "Be careful!" Yu Jiangong nodded at his wife and rushed out with Xuanning Sword in hand.
The Xuanning Sword wielded by Yu Jiangong, while not as capable of slicing through iron like the Black Gold Dagger, was still an extremely sharp weapon. Wherever its blade struck, wolves fell dead or wounded, and in a matter of moments, countless wolves lay slain. The pack within the fire circle had been nearly wiped out. For the time being, the wolves outside the fire circle were deterred by the trio's power and dared not leap into the flames; instead, they moved restlessly around the perimeter, unable to devise a plan.
Seeing that many wolves still lingered outside the fire circle, Yu Jiangong turned to Xiong Yanbi and Zu Dashow and said, "Brother Xiong, Brother Zu, let’s go inside and talk." Both men nodded in agreement.
The three quickly entered the room belonging to Yu Jiangong and Han Ying. Xiong Yanbi asked Yu Jiangong, "You summoned me and Brother Zu to Lushan; is there something urgent?" Yu Jiangong was taken aback by Xiong Yanbi's words and quickly replied, "Wasn't it just a week ago that you sent someone from Ningyuan with a secret letter? The letter stated that you and Brother Zu would first scout military intelligence at Hetuala and then meet me here in Lushan three days later?"
Xiong Yanbi responded, "I did write to you about scouting at Hetuala with Brother Zu, but our original plan was to return directly to Ningyuan after gathering intelligence on Nurhaci. We never intended to arrange a meeting with you here in Lushan. Just two days ago, as we left Hetuala City, we encountered your deputy Chen Tao. He mentioned that you were worried about our safety and ordered him to meet us outside Hetuala. Chen Tao also said you were waiting for us at the foot of Lushan. Since it was your deputy who came to escort us, I had no reason to doubt him. After arriving in Guangning, Chen Tao said you instructed him to escort us there before returning immediately to Jinzhou. So, Brother Zu and I parted ways with him in Guangning County. Chen Tao headed towards Jinzhou while we came here looking for you."
Yu Jiangong exclaimed angrily, "So we were deceived by Chen Tao! I trusted him so much; why would he betray me? Could it be that Chen Tao is a spy working with Nurhaci to put us in danger?"
Xiong Yanbi pondered for a moment before saying, "We can't determine if Chen Tao is a spy just yet; he may also be a pawn in someone else's game. However, it’s clear that our current situation is extremely perilous. We need to find a way to escape."
Han Ying added, "Brother Xiong is right. The enemy has lured us here with the intention of capturing us all at once. We must leave quickly, but how can we break through when the wolves have surrounded us so tightly?"
Yu Jiangong furrowed his brow in thought for a moment before saying, "I have an idea; I wonder if everyone will agree with it?"
Han Ying urged him on, "What is it? Please share your thoughts."
Yu Jiangong replied, "Let's call the Innkeeper in for discussion first; I'm not sure if my plan will work."
Xiong Yanbi said, "Alright, I'll go find the Innkeeper." Without waiting for Yu Jiangong's response, he dashed out of the room and shouted, "Innkeeper! Please come out!"
Hearing this call, the Innkeeper opened the door slightly. Xiong Yanbi entered his room and said, "My brother wants you to come to his room." The Innkeeper was too frightened of the wolves outside to follow Xiong Yanbi. Grabbing him by the shoulder as if he were a chick, Xiong Yanbi pulled him outside just as a wolf that had leaped into the fire circle lunged at them.
The Innkeeper turned pale with fear as Xiong Yanbi swung his large knife and cleaved off half of the wolf's head before dragging the terrified Innkeeper into Yu Jiangong's room. Seeing how shaken the Innkeeper was, Han Ying comforted him saying, "Innkeeper, don’t be afraid. I want to discuss a way to fend off the wolves with you. How many chickens do you have left in your inn?"
The Innkeeper replied nervously, "There are over twenty live chickens and about a hundred frozen ones in the cellar. Why do you ask?"
Yu Jiangong exclaimed joyfully, "You have a cellar? Where is it located?"
The Innkeeper answered, "It's under the pile of firewood in the west shed."
Yu Jiangong realized that this shed was right next to his and Han Ying's room. Noticing the Innkeeper's fearful demeanor, he said, "Innkeeper, I want to take out twenty frozen chickens from your cellar and use them to lure away the wolves while I ride back to Jinzhou for reinforcements. This way you and your guests will be safe!"
Xiong Yanbi and Zu Dashow thought this plan was excellent; however, the Innkeeper shook his head and said, "Are you planning to use those twenty frozen chickens to distract the wolves? That might not work; once those hungry wolves finish eating them, they'll return to our inn."
Yu Jiangong clarified, "I intend to lure them away first and then ride back quickly to Jinzhou for my troops to come back and deal with these vicious wolves."
Upon hearing that Yu Jiangong was stationed at Jinzhou during the Ming Dynasty and could bring reinforcements back with him, relief washed over the Innkeeper's face.
Han Ying expressed her concern for Yu Jiangong saying, "Brother, this is too dangerous; I cannot agree with this plan."
Gazing tenderly at his beloved wife, Yu Jiangong reassured h second Brother ntly, "Don't worry; Jinzhou is so close that I will return within a day."
Xiong Yanbi added reassuringly to Han Ying, "I'll go with Jian Gong; having each other’s backs will keep us safer. You stay here with Zu Dashow and protect everyone in the inn."
Knowing Xiong Yanbi’s formidable skills eased some of Han Ying's worries. It seemed there was no better way to fend off the wolves than this plan. Moreover, since someone had deliberately led them into Lushan with malicious intent—staying here even one more minute increased their danger—Han Ying finally said resolutely to both men: "Alright then; make sure you hurry back!"
Yu Jiangong and Xiong Yanbi pushed open the door, and a vicious wolf lunged at Yu Jiangong's leg. Yu Jiangong sidestepped, flipped his right hand, and struck the wolf's back with a reverse blow. The wolf let out a muffled groan and died instantly. Xiong Yanbi couldn't help but exclaim, "What impressive skills!" Yu Jiangong humbly replied, "You're overpraising me, big brother." Concerned that the wolf might attack Xiong Yanbi and Zu Dashow's horses, Yu Jiangong led their horses into the firewood room. After entering the firewood room, they cleared away some of the firewood and discovered a cellar underneath. Yu Jiangong removed the iron cover on top and saw that the cellar was pitch black. He lit a wooden stick to use as a torch and said to Xiong Yanbi, "Big brother, let me take a look down there." Holding the torch, Yu Jiangong descended the stairs. Once in the cellar, the torch illuminated the space clearly. He was delighted to find that the cellar was quite spacious; even with the innkeeper, the waiter, and all the guests totaling around fifteen or sixteen people, there would be more than enough room for everyone. However, since the cellar lacked ventilation, staying there for too long could lead to suffocation. Yu Jiangong realized that the cellar was likely located beneath the firewood room and stable. After some thought, he used a black gold short knife to carve a hole above where he estimated the stable was located. This hole was covered by hay from above, so even if enemies found the inn after they left, they would never discover this place. With his plan set, Yu Jiangong took twenty frozen chickens from the cellar and shared his idea with Xiong Yanbi. Xiong Yanbi also thought it was an excellent plan; it would be very difficult for both enemies and wolves to discover this location.
The two returned to their guest room, where Yu Jiangong explained to the innkeeper his idea of having all guests hide in the cellar for safety. The innkeeper was a very timid man who feared that once Xiong Yanbi and Yu Jiangong left, their enemies would find them here. Allowing everyone to take refuge in the cellar truly seemed like a good solution. Xiong Yanbi said to Zu Dashow, "Brother Zu, after I and Brother Yu leave, please take care of my sister-in-law and everyone in the inn." Zu Dashow was a native of Ningyuan who assisted Xiong Yanbi in defending Ningyuan; he had a bold personality. He immediately replied, "Rest assured, brothers; I will take care of it." Xiong Yanbi and Yu Jiangong settled everyone in the cellar, covered it with the iron lid again, and placed firewood back on top of it. Each of them took ten chickens in hand and led their horses out of the firewood room. They mounted their horses and dashed out of the danger zone at lightning speed. When the pack of wolves saw horses charging toward them, they retreated one after another. Just as they broke through the wolf pack, many wolves followed closely behind them in pursuit. The snow on the road had melted over two days; although it wasn't as deep as right after snowfall, it remained very slippery and difficult to walk on. Fortunately, both of their warhorses were top-quality steeds that ran swiftly across the snow. Yu Jiangong and Xiong Yanbi threw a frozen chicken back toward the wolves; they rushed forward to snatch it up. However, these two frozen chickens were merely a drop in the bucket and could not satisfy their hunger at all. Yu Jiangong and Xiong Yanbi continued tossing several more chickens behind them while taking advantage of the wolves' distraction to get far ahead of them. They rode along a secluded path heading southwest for about twenty miles when suddenly they heard chaotic hoofbeats approaching.
Both men were alarmed; an ominous feeling surged within them. In the dim moonlight reflecting off the white snow, a group of horsemen quickly galloped toward them and surrounded them completely. Seeing that there were over a hundred enemy cavalrymen dressed as Jurchen soldiers from Jianzhou, Xiong Yanbi and Yu Jiangong exchanged glances, knowing that trouble was brewing. The leader among them scrutinized both men for a moment before asking, "Are you two General Xiong Yanbi and General Yu Jiangong of the Ming army?" Xiong Yanbi and Yu Jiangong looked at each other again; they understood that their adversaries meant no good. Xiong Yanbi replied, "I am Right Vice Commander Xiong Yanbi from Liaodong; this is my brother Yu Jiangong from Jinzhou. Who are you?" The leader laughed heartily and said, "Brothers! We are about to get promoted! Lord Namudari is truly insightful; he predicted you two would go to Jinzhou for reinforcements and specifically ordered me to wait here to capture you both." Xiong Yanbi asked angrily, "Is Namudari not Man Tai's third son from Ula tribe?" The leader looked at him in surprise and replied, "That's right! Our lord is indeed Prince Man Tai's third son from Ula tribe! I didn't expect this southern barbarian to have some knowledge!" Xiong Yanbi retorted angrily, "My brother Yu and I have no acquaintance with Namudari; we bear no grudges against him—why would he want us as enemies?" The leader replied smugly, "Our lord is a wise man who knows how to seize opportunities; now he has submitted under Nurhaci of Jianzhou. Our lord is resourceful in battle and has earned Nurhaci's trust..." Before he could finish his sentence, Xiong Yanbi interrupted disdainfully: "Nurhaci has repeatedly attacked your Ula tribe; Ula is currently surrounded by enemies on all sides—its situation is precarious! The atrocities committed by Nurhaci against Ula are beyond description! Their troops have brutally slaughtered people within Ula's city walls; property has been looted cleanly; women have been violated; men have been killed! Instead of bravely defending his tribe against Nurhaci's invasion, Namudari willingly becomes Nurhaci's henchman—what reasoning is behind this?" The leader sneered: "Lord Namudari is Abahai's biological brother; he is indeed Jianzhou's national uncle! Abahai bore Prince Ajige for Nurhaci—she is deeply favored by him! Our lord enjoys great trust from Nurhaci as well; it is only natural for him to assist Nurhaci in conquering lands! You Ming Dynasty are merely an obstacle in Nurhaci's quest for unification! If we capture these two generals guarding Liaoxi today—not only will we rise in rank ourselves but Lord Namudari will also soar high..."
"Bah!" Before that leader could finish speaking, Yu Jiangong shouted loudly at him: "You speak nonsense! Watch me kill you!" Saying this, he brandished his Xuanning Sword and charged toward that leader's chest. The leader reined in his horse sharply and leaned sideways to evade Yu Jiangong's sword strike. With a twist of his wrist, Yu Jiangong swept his sword horizontally toward that leader’s waist; however, that leader ducked down onto his horse’s back just in time to avoid being hit by Yu Jiangong’s long sword. Unexpectedly, this move was merely feigned—Yu Jiangong quickly thrust his sword directly into that leader’s right leg instead; pain shot through him as he fell off his horse instantly.
Xiong Yanbi understood clearly that this move was clearly Yu Jiangong showing mercy. Otherwise, if the blade had been thrust directly into his back or head, he wouldn't have survived. However, the leader did not appreciate this mercy; he fell to the ground and waved his hand, commanding the soldiers, "Capture them alive! The Prince has said that capturing Xiong Yanbi, Yu Jiangong, and Zu Dashow will earn us great rewards. Brothers, charge! Don't let them escape!" Upon hearing their commander's orders, the soldiers mounted their horses and brandished their weapons, lunging at Xiong Yanbi and Yu Jiangong with fierce intent.
Xiong Yanbi and Yu Jiangong each wielded a large knife and a treasured sword, respectively, swiftly cutting and stabbing to knock several enemies off their horses. Xiong Yanbi said to Yu Jiangong, "Brother, the enemy has long been prepared; we cannot engage in a prolonged battle, or we will fall into their trap. My sister-in-law and Zu Dashow are likely in danger just like us. We shouldn't linger here; let's return to the inn and regroup with them." Yu Jiangong replied, "What you say is true, brother. Let's head back."
The two turned their horses northeast to break through. A few soldiers blocked their path, attacking them with sharp blades. Xiong Yanbi and Yu Jiangong were both top-notch experts in the martial world; they quickly dodged the enemy's attacks and knocked down several foes before charging through the opening toward the inn. After riding for several miles, they encountered a pack of wolves following closely behind. Each of them tossed a few frozen chickens into the wolf pack. The wolves went into a frenzy over the sudden food, allowing Xiong Yanbi and Yu Jiangong's horses to leap over the wolves and speed away. In less than a short incense stick's time, they reached near the inn and saw from a distance that it was surrounded by a group of soldiers holding torches. The bright flames illuminated the snow-covered ground as if it were daytime.
Seeing that these soldiers were also dressed in Jurchen cavalry attire like those they had encountered earlier, they realized they were part of the same group. The inn was dark inside; it seemed that Han Ying, Zu Dashow, and the Innkeeper hiding in the cellar had not been discovered. This brought a slight relief to both men. At the same time, Yu Jiangong and Xiong Yanbi shouted together, "Kill!" They tightened their legs on the stirrups as their horses charged forward in pain before the enemy could fully react. They broke into the enemy's ranks, causing chaos among them; several unsuspecting soldiers quickly fell victim to Xiong Yanbi's blade and Yu Jiangong's sword.
Relying on their numbers, the enemy soon surrounded Xiong Yanbi and Yu Jiangong completely. With the light from the torches illuminating their surroundings, Yu Jiangong recognized two individuals among them as those who had stayed at the inn just days ago—those who had hurriedly checked out after driving away a pack of wolves. However, these two were no longer dressed as common Jurchen citizens but wore Jurchen cavalry uniforms instead. It turned out they were spies. When these two left the inn, they already knew that Han Ying was Yu Jiangong's wife; now that they saw only him without her, they would not let it go easily.
Thinking of this made Yu Jiangong's heart tighten as he angrily shouted at them, "Who are you two? Why are you opposing me?" The slightly plump one replied, "We brothers know you are a hero; it's just that we serve different masters and have no choice but to offend you." Yu Jiangong asked, "So you two are in league with Namudari?" The two replied, "We only pledge allegiance to Nurhaci and disdain to associate with traitors like Namudari." The thinner one added, "Indeed, we are subordinates of Nurhaci and have no connection with Namudari."
Yu Jiangong said, "From what you're saying, Nurhaci sent you here; what does he want?" The thin one responded, "Prince Nurhaci requests both generals to return to Hetuala for an important matter." Xiong Yanbi snorted coldly and said, "Nurhaci probably has ill intentions and wants to set up a banquet for us; you two go back and tell Nurhaci that we do not wish to disturb him." The thin one replied, "If you two do not want to come with us, then don't blame us for being impolite." After saying this, he drew his sword and lunged at Yu Jiangong.
Yu Jiangong raised his Xuanning Sword to block the attack; when their swords clashed, sparks flew as his deep internal strength caused the thin man's sword to fly from his hand while his grip throbbed painfully. Seeing this situation unfold poorly for him, the plump man drew his spear to engage in battle. Yu Jiangong remained calm as he faced both opponents alone while Xiong Yanbi swung his large knife to knock down four or five more enemies off their horses. Just as they were engaged in fierce combat with numerous soldiers, suddenly chaotic hoofbeats approached from afar—it was evident that cavalry sent by Namudari had arrived.
The small leader leading the troops saw that Yu Jiangong was entangled with several soldiers and unable to free himself. He stealthily circled behind Yu Jiangong, shaking the spear in his hand as he aimed for Yu Jiangong's back. Just as the spear was about to pierce Yu Jiangong's heart, a sword suddenly flew out from the inn, striking the small leader in the back. The small leader fell from his horse, dead.
Yu Jiangong recognized that the sword embedded in the small leader's back was Han Ying's treasured sword. Concerned for his wife's safety, he rushed into the inn. Upon reaching the entrance, he entered the room where he and Han Ying were staying. He found Han Ying clutching her stomach, her expression pained, while a woman supported her. Yu Jiangong hurriedly asked Han Ying, "What’s wrong, Yingmei?" The woman replied, "Madam is about to give birth."
Yu Jiangong was puzzled. "How could the baby come so many days early?" After asking this question, he scolded himself for being foolish; it must have been that Han Ying had exerted herself too much when she threw her sword to save herself. He quickly helped his wife to lie down on a bed. Han Ying felt increasing pain in her abdomen, beads of sweat forming on her forehead. Yu Jiangong's heart ached for her as outside, the sounds of clashing weapons and neighing horses continued relentlessly. Anxious about the battle outside, he said to the woman, "Please take good care of my wife."
The woman gratefully acknowledged Yu Jiangong and Han Ying for saving her life by driving off the wolves and replied, "You just focus on fighting the enemy; I will take care of Madam." With his mind slightly at ease, Yu Jiangong dashed out of the inn and saw Zu Dashow already fighting alongside Xiong Yanbi against their enemies. The thin man addressed them, "We are only following Prince Nurhaci's orders to invite a few officials to Hetuala. If you refuse, we will have no choice but to burn this inn."
Yu Jiangong realized that the thin and fat men intended to use Han Ying and the innkeeper's lives as leverage against them, filling him with both shock and anger. He thought that even if those people were hiding in the cellar, if the inn caught fire and smoke filled it, they would suffocate from smoke inhalation. What could be done? Just then, a chorus of wolf howls echoed in everyone's ears, bringing joy to all three men; hundreds of hungry wolves returning to the inn was no laughing matter. Their immediate priority was not to fight among themselves but to drive off the wolf pack.
Xiong Yanbi said, "If we keep fighting like this, we will all end up as food for those hungry wolves. We must unite our strength to repel them." As he spoke, the wolf pack was already upon them. Most of these soldiers grew up in the north and understood how dangerous wolves could be; thus everyone dared not slack off. The starving wolves charged forward, tearing at the soldiers' horses. Many horses were bitten, causing their riders to fall to the ground along with their mounts. Those who weren't bitten swung their weapons at the wolves in retaliation. In an instant, there were cries of horses and howls of wolves mingling with bloodshed—a scene of chaos.
The battle between humans and wolves raged on for most of the night; more than half of the wolf pack had been eliminated while dozens of ferocious wolves lost their will to fight and fled in panic. On the Jurchen soldiers' side, over a hundred had died or been injured.
Worried about Han Ying's safety in the inn, Yu Jiangong was about to return to their room when he suddenly heard a loud cry of a newborn baby from inside. His heart leaped with joy; he knew his wife had given birth. He turned and rushed back into their room. Inside, Han Ying lay weakly on the bed while the woman wrapped the baby in a cotton blanket and said to them both, "Congratulations! It's a little boy."
Yu Jiangong tightly grasped his wife's hand as the woman presented their child before them. They saw that their baby had thick eyebrows and big eyes—adorably resembling Yu Jiangong himself. Overcome with joy, Han Ying wept as she gently touched her child's soft face and said with a trembling voice, "Elder brother, please give our child a name."
Yu Jiangong thought about how this child was born in Guangning County during a time of national crisis when both he and his wife were in danger—truly a situation filled with both national grievances and family woes. With this in mind, he said to Han Ying, "In these chaotic times when people long for peace throughout the land and safety everywhere, I hope our child grows up to be a good man who cares for others and protects our homeland; that way it won't be in vain that we brought him into this world. Since he was born here in Jinzhou Guangning County, let’s name him Yuning!"
Han Ying joyfully replied, "Great! We'll call him Ning'er!" Yu Jiangong added, "Now that strong enemies are right before us and time is urgent, you must quickly take our child away from here. I don’t know if Jinzhou City is safe anymore; don’t go back there. Head southwest from Yizhou through Mongolia’s borders until you reach Jinling where you can seek refuge with my junior brother Lin Enzhe and his wife."
Han Ying deeply loved Yu Jiangong and refused to leave him behind; she shook her head repeatedly saying, "Elder brother, don’t say that! I won’t abandon you here." Yu Jiangong felt frantic; he raised his voice saying, "How can you say you're leaving me behind? I want you to find my junior brother Lin Enzhe precisely to ensure our family's bloodline survives!"
Han Ying was overwhelmed with confusion and fell silent. Yu Jiangong picked up a brush from the table and quickly wrote a letter to Lin Enzhe before handing it over to Han Ying while urging her urgently: "Hurry! If you delay any longer it will be too late!" Tears welled up in Han Ying's eyes as she felt overwhelmed by emotion. Yu Jiangong took their child from the woman's hands one last time; after lovingly gazing at him once more, he handed him back to Han Ying along with a short black gold dagger for self-defense.
To the woman who assisted with Han Ying’s delivery, Yu Jiangong said gratefully: "Thank you for your help! The soldiers only want to capture us three; they have no grievances against you and won’t harm you—take advantage of this chaos and escape quickly!" The woman expressed her gratitude towards Yu Jiangong for saving her life from the wolf pack: "Now that Madam has just given birth and is very weak herself, I also need to return home to my family in Jiangnan; why don’t I accompany Madam to Jinling? It would be safer on the road together."
Yu Jiangong replied: "Thank you so much! That would be perfect."
Yu Jiangong pushed open the door and led out two horses from the stable. He harnessed the carriage to the two horses and Han Ying, holding Yuning and the woman, got into the carriage. Yu Jiangong waved the Xuanning Sword with his left hand, knocking down several arrows shot at them. With his right hand holding the reins of one horse, he charged through the cavalry formation of the soldiers. He fiercely slapped the buttocks of the two horses with the hilt of his sword, and the two horses galloped rapidly towards the southwest. The soldiers pulled their bows and shot arrows at the carriage, but the speeding carriage caused the arrows to lose their power and fall to the ground halfway.
Seeing Han Ying and the woman getting farther away, Yu Jiangong felt a little relieved. He saw Xiong Yanbi and Zu Dashow bravely fighting the enemy, both covered in blood like himself. Yu Jiangong felt a pang in his heart and said to Xiong Yanbi and Zu Dashow, "Brother Xiong, Brother Zu, I am honored to fight alongside both of you. Today, if we can die for our country, I will have no regrets. Now, let's swear to become sworn brothers, despite having already sworn with Xiong Yanbi, but not with Zu Dashow." Xiong Yanbi and Zu Dashow knew the situation was critical today, with little hope of survival, but they were willing to sacrifice their lives for the interests of the country and the nation. Xiong Yanbi laughed heartily and said, "Good brothers, it's a great thing for the three of us to become brothers in front of so many enemies." Xiong Yanbi took out a wine pouch from his waist, removed the stopper, bit his finger, and let the blood drip into the wine pouch. Yu Jiangong and Zu Dashow rode forward, bit their fingers, and let the blood drip into the wine pouch. The three of them took turns to drink from the wine pouch, feeling refreshed and invigorated. They clasped hands and vowed that if they could break through the encirclement today, they would share both fortune and misfortune. The soldiers, seeing the fearlessness of the three men, were inspired and many of them cheered for the three. After the oath, they drew their swords and re-entered the enemy ranks. At this moment, a horn sounded from the northeast, and a large number of troops and horses rushed in like a whirlwind. The three men, already covered in wounds, felt despair at the sight of the additional soldiers.
Suddenly, the sound of clashing weapons came from the southwest perimeter of the enemy's position. A voice shouted loudly, "Big brother, I'm back. Are you and Brother Xiong and Brother Zu still here?" Yu Jiangong recognized the voice as Han Ying's and was surprised. He asked, "Shadow sister, why have you come back?" Han Ying replied, "Big brother, didn't I say that I am your shadow? Wherever you go, I go. We cannot be separated!" Yu Jiangong was moved and, brandishing his long sword, fought desperately towards the southwest. Finally, in the enemy camp, he reunited with Han Ying and shouted to her, "Good, shadow sister, we will live and die together." Han Ying responded with a sweet smile. Their horses stood close together. Yu Jiangong shouted to Xiong Yanbi and Zu Dashow, "Brothers, we will break through separately. Han Ying and I will break through to the south, and you and Brother Zu will break through to the north." Xiong Yanbi and Zu Dashow replied, "We will meet again." Yu Jiangong and Han Ying charged southward, closely pursued by the enemy's cavalry. Suddenly, they heard the wind behind them and knew that arrows were coming. They quickly wielded their swords to block the arrows. Han Ying, weakened from childbirth, was not as agile as Yu Jiangong, and an arrow was about to pierce her chest. Yu Jiangong was alarmed and used the Xuanning Sword to knock down the arrow. He helped Han Ying to fend off the arrow, but he himself was completely exposed to the enemy's arrows. An arrow struck Yu Jiangong in the heart, causing him to fall from his horse. Han Ying was horrified and, as she struggled to crawl towards Yu Jiangong, an arrow pierced her back. She reached out and tightly grasped Yu Jiangong's left hand...
Han Ying was worried about Yu Jiangong and entrusted Yuning to a woman, instructing her to take the child to the Enze Gang in Jinling. She placed the Black Gold Sword, a letter from Yu Jiangong to Lin Enzhe, and a jade pendant she carried with her inside the child's blanket. Han Ying bought a horse at a market and rode back northeast along the original route, leaving the woman to take the child toward Jinling alone. The woman dared not waste time on the road; she bought some dry food at a market and fresh goat's milk for the child, then hurried day and night toward Jinling. In just two days and nights, she arrived in Jinling city.
The Enze Gang, known far and wide, was easy for the woman to find. The disciples of the gang quickly brought her before Lin Enzhe and Miao Shuyan. After hearing her story, Lin Enzhe and his wife were shocked. They opened Yu Jiangong's letter, which read: "Dear Junior Brother Enze and Junior Sister Shuyan, I have received your kind letter with great comfort. I am currently trapped by Ula's Prince Namudali's scheme, determined to die for my country. However, I am deeply concerned about Yingmei and Ning'er. I respectfully ask you both to take care of my young son as fellow disciples. I would be eternally grateful from beyond the grave. Your brother, Jian Gong."
Lin Enzhe and Miao Shuyan were moved to tears upon reading Yu Jiangong's handwritten letter. They held Yuning carefully, noticing that the child was delicate and charming, resembling Yu Jiangong closely. Lin Enzhe gently said to Yuning, "Child, from now on you will be a member of the Lin family." Miao Shuyan instinctively touched her belly and said, "I will soon give birth to another child for the Lin family. When you grow up, study hard to avenge your parents!"
Having fulfilled Yu Jiangong and Han Ying's wishes, the woman bid farewell to Lin Enzhe and his wife. Grateful for her efforts in bringing the child to them, Lin Enzhe gave her ten taels of gold. The woman thanked them profusely before leaving. Lin Enzhe said to Miao Shuyan, "Shuyan, I want to take a few more disciples and servants to Guangning in the Borderlands to see if we can find the remains of my senior brother and sister-in-law." Miao Shuyan hesitated for a moment before replying, "That sounds good. If you find their remains, be sure to give them a proper burial."
Lin Enzhe rode swiftly through the night with over ten disciples and servants, reaching Shanhaiguan in less than two days. Upon arrival, they changed into Jurchen attire, disguising themselves as Jurchen merchants, and made their way to the foot of Mount Guangning. Lin Enzhe found only a dilapidated inn there, surrounded by a scene of horror—bodies lay scattered everywhere, their bones stark against the ground, a sight too grim to behold. The group examined each corpse but found no sign of Yu Jiangong and Han Ying. Lin Enzhe wondered if the couple had miraculously escaped death.
Determined, Lin Enzhe led his companions toward Mount Lu. Beneath a dense grove of pines at the mountain's base, he discovered the burial site of Yu Jiangong and his wife. A wooden tablet marked their grave, inscribed with the words: "Grave of Brother Yu Jiangong and Heroine Han Ying." Although he did not know who had laid them to rest here, seeing them finally at peace brought him some solace. Kneeling before their grave, Lin Enzhe vowed, "Rest assured, Brother and Sister. I will teach Ning'er martial arts and raise him to adulthood so that he may avenge you against your enemy, Namudali!" After making his vow, Lin Enzhe slowly rose and burned joss paper for Yu Jiangong and Han Ying. His thoughts turned to Miao Shuyan; knowing she would soon give birth, he urged his companions to return to Jinling without delay.
Upon arriving home in Jinling, a servant reported that Miao Shuyan had given birth to a girl just hours earlier. Overjoyed, Lin Enzhe hurried into the inner chamber and found Miao Shuyan resting quietly in bed with their daughter nestled closely beside her. He picked up the baby and marveled at her delicate features—fair and lovely, she was truly enchanting. "I have a daughter! A daughter!" he exclaimed joyfully. Turning to Miao Shuyan, he added excitedly, "Thank you for giving me such a wonderful child."
Miao Shuyan playfully chided him, "Brother, you should name our daughter." After a moment's thought, Lin Enzhe replied, "Since she is so exquisite, let’s name her Lin Xiu. This name reflects not only her beauty but also my hope that she will stand out like a tree in the forest as she grows." Miao Shuyan was pleased with her husband's choice and said, "Now we have three children! Ning'er is only six days older than Xiu'er; we can claim they are twins for now. When Ning'er grows up, we can find the right time to reveal his true heritage." Lin Enzhe admired his wife's foresight and replied, "We must protect the bloodline of Brother Yu and Sister Han at all costs."
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