Chapter 530: Night Meeting with Commander Yue

The night was as dark as ink; the river wind carried moisture and the chill of deep autumn, sweeping over the grass outside the Yue Family Army's camp, producing a soft rustling.

Shi Dun approached the camp like an experienced lone wolf, using the terrain and shadows for cover, moving silently.

He lay hidden in a ditch about fifty paces from the camp's fence, holding his breath and focusing his attention, observing carefully.

The patrol routine inside the camp was stricter than he had anticipated.

The sentries stood straight as pines, holding their spears.

The hidden sentries were cleverly concealed behind the fence's shadows or makeshift grass shelters; without Shi Dun's keen eyesight, they would hardly be noticed.

Patrol teams moved back and forth along fixed routes at set intervals, their steps light yet steady, communicating with hand signals or barely audible commands, showing a high level of training.

"Indeed, the reputation is not undeserved."

Shi Dun felt a sudden alarm in his heart.

Such a level of vigilance far exceeded that of ordinary troops, and was even a bit tighter than the regular guard of the Northward Aspiration Army's Black Cloud Camp Main Camp.

He waited patiently, calculating the gaps in the patrols' crossing.

Just as he prepared to exploit a brief opening and move forward a little farther, a sudden change occurred!

From a seemingly tranquil patch of grass to his rear side, several black figures sprang out without warning!

Moving with the speed of a leopard, they lunged straight at the ditch where Shi Dun was hiding!

At the same moment, two soldiers armed with strong crossbows rose from the shadows of the fence ahead, their icy bolt tips glinting in the weak moonlight, locking onto him!

"Seize him!"

A low, solemn command rang out, carrying undeniable authority.

Shi Dun's heart gave a huge jolt!

He, who considered himself skilled in stealth, had not realized when he had fallen into an encirclement!

The enemy had obviously discovered him long before, but held back until the moment he was about to move yet hesitated, his mind slightly lax, then struck suddenly!

In the flash of lightning and stone, he had no time to think further.

Instinctively, his body rolled forward to evade the first two grappling attempts, his right hand flashing to the concealed dagger at his waist.

"Swish!"

A faint click of the mechanism sounded, and a crossbow bolt whizzed past his ear, embedding deep into the earth where he had just been!

It was a clear warning!

Immediately after, a gust of wind sounded behind his head!

Shi Dun had no time to fully dodge, so he braced his shoulder to take the blow.

"Thud!"

A great force struck; despite Shi Dun's strong bones and muscles, this heavy blow sent him staggering forward.

Before he could regain his footing, the black figures on both sides closed in, icy spear points pressing against his throat and back.

Furthermore, two men swiftly stepped forward, skillfully removing the dagger from his waist, twisting his arms behind his back, and tightly binding them with cowhide rope.

The whole process was clean and swift, taking no more than a breath.

Shi Dun couldn't even see clearly how many opponents there were.

Two soldiers firmly held him up and shoved him toward the camp.

Only then did he see clearly that his ambusher consisted of five soldiers dressed in dark combat uniforms that blended with the night, their faces smeared with grass juice.

Their eyes were sharp, their bearing vigorous; they were clearly an elite unit specialized in outer perimeter guard and anti-infiltration.

The camp gate opened silently and then swiftly closed.

Shi Dun was taken directly to the outside of the Central Commander's Tent.

Inside the tent, bright lights illuminated a tall figure leaning over a case, studying a map.

"Reporting to the Commander! We have captured a night intruder who sneaked near the camp!"

"His skills are extraordinary; he is likely a scout!"

The escort team holding Shi Dun reported loudly.

The figure inside the tent heard the voice and lifted his head.

By the firelight shining from within the tent, Shi Dun finally made out the famed Yue Pengju.

He looked under thirty, with a chiseled face and slightly dark skin, the color of one long exposed to wind and frost.

His eyebrows flew slantwise into his temples; his eyes were calm like a deep pool, yet seemed to hide a sharp edge ready to burst forth.

He wore no helmet or armor, only a whitened blue battle robe, his waist straight as a rod, naturally exuding an aura of authority without anger.

Yue Fei's gaze fell upon Shi Dun, calm and waveless, yet seeming able to see through his flesh straight to his heart.

"Who are you?"

"Why do you come at night to spy on our camp?"

His voice was not loud, yet carried a metallic resonance, clearly spreading through the night.

Shi Dun's thoughts raced like lightning.

At this point, concealing his identity was meaningless and might only provoke them.

He drew a deep breath, met Yue Fei's eyes, and spoke in a low voice:

"I am Shi Dun, from North of the River."

He paused briefly, then added emphasis.

"Northward Aspiration Army."

"As soon as the words 'Northward Aspiration Army' were spoken, the eyes of several escort soldiers outside the tent sharpened instantly, their grips on their weapons tightening further."

Obviously, they had heard of that name; they knew it was a force the Imperial Court labeled as 'bandits,' yet repeatedly resisted the Jin army in the northern lands.

Yue Fei's eyes also narrowed slightly, but his face still showed no joy or anger.

He waved his hand, signaling the escorting soldiers to retreat slightly, but did not loosen Shi Dun's bonds.

"Northward Aspiration Army..."

Yue Fei repeated the name, his eyes like torches, staring at Shi Dun.

"Lin Chong, Chao Gai, Wu Yong... and that mysterious Mr. Chen."

"You did well in Zhao Prefecture and Black Cloud Stronghold, making the Jin bandits suffer."

His tone actually carried a barely perceptible note of approval.

Shi Dun felt somewhat reassured; it seemed the other side was not completely ignorant of the Northward Aspiration Army, and held a favorable impression.

He seized the moment and said:

"Commander Yue, you overpraise."

"The Northward Aspiration Army, from top to bottom, seeks only a way to survive, to protect our homes, unable to see our lands ravaged and our people suffering."

"Our initial intention in gathering the scattered troops here with Commander Yue, to unite the army and resist the Jin, is the same."

Yue Fei neither affirmed nor denied, walked up to Shi Dun, only three steps away, his eyes sharp as a blade.

"Since we are fellow resisters of the Jin, why not deliver a notice in broad daylight, to visit openly and honorably?"

"Instead, you conduct this sneaky act, scouting the military camp at night?"

"Could it be that you harbor ulterior motives?"

"Or, like some in the Imperial Court who profess to resist the Jin but actually have other schemes?"

His questions grew sharper and sharper, carrying a strong sense of scrutiny.

Shi Dun met his gaze without fear, and said candidly:

"Commander Yue, your discernment is clear."

"It is not that Shi Dun wishes to act openly; rather, his status limits him, forcing him to act cautiously."

"In the eyes of the False Song Imperial Court, the Northward Aspiration Army is considered rebellious;"

"while Commander Yue holds an official post from the Imperial Court."

"If Shi Dun were to submit a notice in broad daylight, he would likely be imprisoned before even seeing the commander."

"Tonight I risked coming just to see for myself whether Commander Yue truly lives up to the rumors—a sincere resister of the Jin, a hero worthy of alliance!"

"Also, I speak on behalf of Mr. Chen of the Northward Aspiration Army and thousands of brothers, to convey our respects to Commander Yue and declare our shared hatred of the enemy!"

He emphasized the two words "False Song" slightly, carefully observing Yue Fei's reaction.

Yue Fei fell silent for a moment upon hearing that.

He walked back and forth with his hands behind his back before the tent, his gaze sweeping the night sky and then returning to Shi Dun.

"False Song..."

He slowly chewed on those two words, his face showing no joy or anger, but deep in his eyes a flicker of extremely complex emotion seemed to pass.

There was helplessness, there was resentment, and also a barely perceptible sense of agreement.

"Well then, tell me,"

Yue Fei stopped his steps, looked again at Shi Dun, his tone softened somewhat, yet still carried scrutiny.

"How is the situation of your Northward Aspiration Army in the northern lands?"

"And what plans does that Mr. Chen have?"

"And furthermore, why have you come south this time to seek me, Yue Fei, and what is your true purpose?"

Shi Dun knew, the true test has only just begun.

Whether he can gain Yue Fei's initial trust, and whether the Northward Aspiration Army can find a potential powerful ally in the south, depends on the ensuing dialogue.