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The Jin army's search continued all the way until dusk. They had practically turned all of Ghost Mountain inside out, yet still found nothing.

In the spacious cavern where the stream flowed gently, the three hundred ghost soldiers stood guard beside the water, while more than five hundred villagers sat behind them.

Several ghost soldiers who had returned from different underground passages stepped forward to report the situation on the surface to Shangguan Qing.

“They seem to have stopped searching.”

“But Xie Hangzhou hasn’t given the order to withdraw just yet. It looks like he’s waiting for the two soldiers he sent across the lake to return.”

“Those two Jin soldiers most likely ran into trouble. He’s waiting in vain.”

Upon hearing this, Shangguan Qing gave a slow nod. “If they don’t return, Xie Hangzhou will have only two possible conclusions: either the men encountered an accident, or they were killed by us. He’s more likely to suspect the latter. Since there are no other boats here, he’ll have to transport one from the city. And with the added time needed to search the lakeshore and water routes, it’ll drag things out for several more days.”

After speaking, he turned his attention to the villagers seated on the ground, their faces filled with anxiety and unease, and reassured them, “There’s no need to be afraid. We’re very safe here. If they can’t find us, they’ll naturally assume we’ve already escaped successfully.”

“Then… what happens after that?” One of the villagers asked nervously.

“After that, the imperial army will arrive and drive them away!”

It was Tang Yueshan who spoke this time.

He stepped forward and addressed the villagers whose eyes were now lit with hope. “Right now, the imperial forces are engaging the Liang army in battle. Once that’s done, they’ll head straight to Pucheng to deal with the Jin troops!”

Shangguan Qing translated his words into the dialect spoken in the State of Yan, and the villagers, assuming it was simply some regional speech, didn’t question it too much.

The villager who had spoken earlier cried out excitedly, “So you mean… we’re going to be saved?”

Tang Yueshan responded with absolute certainty, “Of course! Within five days, the imperial army will definitely arrive!”

Taking down the Liang army, capturing the Nangong Family, and reclaiming the new city. At Old Xiao’s pace, five days was more than enough.

Besides, Old Xiao’s daughter-in-law was still here. If he didn’t return within five days, he would definitely suspect that something had happened to both Tang Yueshan and the girl, and would accelerate his attack on Pucheng.

Shangguan Qing once again relayed Tang Yueshan’s words in the language of the State of Yan.

“How do you know all this?” Another villager asked, still skeptical.

“I…” Tang Yueshan opened his mouth, struggling for a moment as he tried to figure out how to explain his identity.

But Shangguan Qing, hands clasped behind his back, spoke calmly on his behalf, “He is Supreme Commander Tang, sent by the imperial court.”

Everyone present was a native of the borderlands, unfamiliar with high-ranking officials from the central government. But the title of Supreme Commander alone was enough to command their respect and inspire trust, instantly turning doubt into renewed hope.

They looked at each other and began to smile, each of them finally able to breathe a little easier.

Tang Yueshan leaned over and muttered in a low voice, “Isn’t that kind of lie going a bit far…”

Shangguan Qing raised an eyebrow and replied, “I never said which empire’s Supreme Commander you are, or which imperial court you came from.”

Tang Yueshan: “…”

He had still wanted to say something more, but just then, he sensed movement from above. His expression shifted slightly, and he quickly raised a hand, gesturing for silence.

The villagers were all highly cooperative. Even Little Ying, who was just over a year old, obediently covered her tiny mouth with both hands at the signal from her older brother.

Little Ying is good, Little Ying won’t make a sound.

In an instant, the entire cave fell into an eerie silence, not even the sound of breathing could be heard.

“All right, we’ll set up camp here for the night!”

They heard the voices of the Jin army from above.

Due to Pucheng’s prosperous border trade, many merchants from the State of Jin had long established shops in the city before the outbreak of war. As a result, most locals were at least partially fluent in both Jin and Yan languages.

That the Jin army had chosen to camp right above them. This was quite the accidental but perfectly unfortunate coincidence.

Shangguan Qing made a gesture with his hand, calmly signaling, “As long as everyone stays silent, there’s nothing to worry about.”

Everyone nodded in response. It happened to be late in the day, so people decided to sleep through the night. By the time they awoke, the Jin troops would likely have already broken camp and moved on.

“Anyone who snores, don’t sleep yet.” Shangguan Qing whispered softly.

Tang Yueshan had just laid down with his bow in his arms when he sat back up, scowling darkly.

……

That night, both those above ground and those below had fallen into deep slumber, and the entirety of Ghost Mountain was wrapped in stillness.

Tang Yueshan didn’t dare to sleep too soundly. He hugged his bow and found a bare patch of ground to sit on, leaning back against the wall as he rested with short dozes here and there.

Around midnight, he began to hear a strange sound, one that didn’t quite fit the peaceful atmosphere. It sounded like someone was groaning in agony, low and enduring.

He frowned and looked warily toward the direction the sound came from. By the soft glow of a luminous night pearl embedded in the wall, he made out the source. It was an expectant mother, clutching her swollen belly and writhing in pain while letting out suppressed cries.

Tang Yueshan suddenly remembered who she was. She was the mother of the little girl named Ying.

Her husband had been killed by Jin soldiers in Pucheng, and she had escaped with her two children thanks to Shangguan Qing’s rescue, eventually reaching Ghost Mountain.

At that moment, the ghost soldier on watch had gone elsewhere on patrol, and the only person still awake in the entire cave was Tang Yueshan.

He stared at her in utter confusion, completely at a loss as to what was happening to her.

In the very next instant, he saw her pull a dagger from her clothes, and with her teeth gritted in despair, she raised it toward her own neck, ready to slash down!

Tang Yueshan’s heart skipped a beat. He sprang forward without hesitation, grabbing her wrist to stop her and asked in a low, urgent voice, “What are you doing?!”

When she drew that dagger, for a second he had almost mistaken her for a spy. But to think she had intended to take her own life?

Her surname was Zhang. Her entire body was soaked in cold sweat, and her face was deathly pale, devoid of any color.

Tang Yueshan began to get an inkling of what was going on. He glanced from her pain-stricken expression to her heavily swollen abdomen. “You… you’re not about to give birth, are you?”

“What’s going on?”

Shangguan Qing had been startled awake and came over with steady steps.

He glanced down and immediately noticed the wet stain spreading beneath the woman’s skirts. His brows furrowed slightly, and in a calm, composed tone, he said, “Her water just broke. The baby’s coming.”

Lady Zhang was only eight months along. It wasn’t yet her due date. Most likely, the immense stress she had been under had brought on premature labor.

She clenched her teeth through another wave of agonizing contractions, her eyes reddening as she choked out a sob, “I can’t… I can’t give birth…”

The Jin army was camped directly overhead. The moment her child was born and let out a single cry, it would give away everyone’s hiding place.

Her face was wet with tears, her voice choked with pain and despair as she wept, “They’ll die… Little Ying will die… Little Hui will die… all of you… you’ll all die…”

She couldn’t let the unborn child in her womb be the reason her two living children and the entire village were wiped out.

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Description:

In the suspenseful supernatural novel “Records of Mortals,” Jiang Baiyan, once a solitary and impoverished youth, finds refuge in the Shi family of Chang’an due to his extraordinary bloodline. With his clear and captivating peach blossom eyes, this seemingly innocent young man conceals a fanatical and malevolent lunatic within. Destined to succumb to darkness amidst hardship and degradation, he becomes a harbinger of chaos.

When Shi Dai suddenly transmigrates, she takes on the role of the Shi family’s young lady, the one who subjects him to countless trials, eventually leading to her demise.

The twist? She never got to finish reading the novel.

From what she knew of the plot, Jiang Baiyan was just a silent, timid, and often bullied pitiable character.

***

Jiang Baiyan had never encountered someone like Shi Dai.

After he had slaughtered all the evil creatures in the garden, the blood-stained young man, exuding a murderous aura, approached her step by step, his lips curling into a malicious smile, "Scared?"

Shi Dai responded, “You’re really amazing! I applaud you until I spin like a spiral and fly around the moon three hundred times! And also——you have dimples when you smile!"

Jiang Baiyan: ...?

—

After seeing her at a lantern festival with another man, Jiang Baiyan lowered his eyes, his fingers twirling her hair. He said in a mocking and sinister tone, "The mansion in the western suburbs...if I hide you there, no one will find you, right?"

Shi Dai replied, "Does it come with meals and lodging? Can I sleep in everyday? Oh, and your cooking is the best!"

Jiang Baiyan: ...?

—

Jiang Baiyan was supposed to dislike her, even hate her, but as their separation drew near, his eyes turned red and he grabbed her sleeve, pleading, "Don't abandon me, alri—”

Shi Dai responded, "Alright, alright, I’ll only have you. Mwah."

Jiang Baiyan: ...?

He hasn't finished his lines yet though…

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