Chapter 468: You aren

Jiang Yunchu shook her head, lips slightly curling, "You aren't back yet?"

She looked toward Xilang, that tall man, the deep‑thinking general, whose heart was pierced through by his own long sword at this moment, while he lifted his head, his face seeming to bear a faint smile, yet also seeming to feel nothing.

"Mother!"

"Dean."

…

The sound of horses whipping and galloping came from afar.

Just as Ning Chengyan was about to shield him, Jiang Yunchu shoved him aside, and she looked behind with a look of delight.

Watching those children come from afar.

"They're back."

"Not a single one missing— they've all returned."

Her voice was low; only Ning Chengyan beside her heard it.

He glanced irritably at the bunch of little rascals, evidently still needing to work hard!

"Mother!"

"Dean, we miss you so much."

Ning Hanmo merely called out softly, but Kang Wen rushed over, grabbed Jiang Yunchu's arm, and kept talking.

The little boy suddenly burst into tears.

Whether it was the mood, or they'd been away from home too long and endured too much.

Each face bore a hint of gloom.

"Dean, only after stepping out did I realize how much you've taught us."

"I only now know that you've always been protecting us."

He used to be like a frog at the bottom of a well—knowing nothing, understanding nothing.

By now, having faced life and death, he understands much—what he once couldn't comprehend.

Seeing Kang Wen's state, Jiang Yunchu couldn't help ruffling his head, but Kang Wen seemed startled, leaping back a big step and staring at the Dean with terror.

That look was like a child who'd made a mistake.

Jiang Yunchu raised an eyebrow, "What's wrong?"

Kang Wen fidgeted and said, "Dean, I'm no longer a child—just look at a man's head, a woman's waist!"

"No scooping…"

He didn't finish the rest, but everyone knew what he meant.

After all, those were words the Dean had said before.

Jiang Yunchu felt the people nearby shivering; she rolled her eyes helplessly, "If you're cold, wear more!"

Ning Chengyan nodded, "What the lady says is right."

"Madam…"

Ning Hanmo suddenly narrowed his eyes, pulled his mother back a step, and placed himself between the two.

"Mother, are you alright? Any injuries?"

Jiang Yunchu shook her head, her eyes full of her son's likeness, "I'm fine— not a scratch."

Ning Hanmo gave a careful look around, then relaxed.

"Mother, I've grown up; from now on you needn't rely on anyone."

"I am your support, your reliance—no matter what happens, I'll be there."

"You needn't be strong alone, nor suffer endless injustice."

"You can be yourself, live the days you like."

Jiang Yunchu caught his implied meaning, saw his earnest expression, and lightly nodded, eyes and brows smiling.

All things revive, winter snow melts, it's just early spring.

Ning Chengyan rubbed his brow, hearing this kid's words— who has a son prying open his father's wall?

"Ning Hanmo!"

Unable to bear it any longer, he finally spoke.

But the wounded youth shielded his mother behind him, turned, and looked at Ning Chengyan.

"Even if it's my father, even the Regent Prince who vanished years ago, you needn't rely on him."

"Smart as he is, how could he not guess who the man opposite is?"

"He once longed for, once yearned for his father."

"But now, standing before him, all he seeks is for his mother to be happy, free of any grievance."

"He's past the age of seeking his father, and the person he admires deep down has long been imprinted with someone's likeness."

Jiang Yunchu lightly patted his shoulder, unaware of what happened these past six months; this little boy has grown tall, his whole body exuding an irrepressible aura.

"Alright, go back and talk slowly, bring your companions, hurry back to the city to rest."

"Your inner strength can no longer be suppressed; suppressing it further will harm you."

Ning Hanmo lifted his head; facing her, he was no longer all guard, but instead an extreme, eyes full of reliance.

"Yes!"

The little boy, with a clear, cold voice, spoke in an unquestionable tone.

"Everyone!"

"Present!"

In that moment, the two hundred ninety‑seven black‑clothed persons and eight children all bowed, awaiting the king's command.

Enter the city!

Rest and regroup.

Yes!

Even though there were only over three hundred of them, their eyes all burned with a fervent light, like flames, sparks that could start a prairie fire.

Their gaze was not toward the old General Jiang, nor the white-clad Princess Consort, nor Ning Chengyan wearing the silver mask at this moment.

But a black-clad youth.

He stood tall, head high, bearing a convincing presence.

The guerrilla warfare lasted over four months; three died, while the others were wounded to varying degrees, yet they all came back alive.

In total, they slaughtered thirty thousand enemies, burned the Grain and Fodder four times, and at one point even instilled a psychological shadow in the southern barbarian army.

The entry of that troop into the city, along with the deaths of Xilang and the wizard, laid a foundation.

Xijiang has fallen!

"Did we win?"

"Heaven finally opened its eyes!"

"We won!"

"We won!"

For a moment, the Jiang family army transmitted cheers, and then those cheers turned into sobs.

They were anxious, they proceeded step by step, each step they took was so difficult.

Below, the besieged city had lasted half a year, with clamor and angry curses never ceasing to be heard.

But...

It's all passed...

They persevered, awaited reinforcements, and awaited this day of victory.

At some point, the white clouds gathered in the sky slowly dispersed, the sun slowly revealed its true face, bringing warm heat, shining upon this city.

"Regent Prince!"

In the military tent, the old General Jiang was about to salute when Ning Chengyan quickly held him back, saying, "Old General, between us, let's not stand on so much ceremony."

"It was you who held back the three-nation allied army, giving us time to march straight to the royal city."

"This is your merit!"

Ning Chengyan is a junior; over these years, cooperating with the western border defenders, there have been some orders, even unknown to the capital Ning Jing.

Jiang Yunchu is no longer in the tent; afterward there are still many wounded, and most importantly, she worries about those children.

"How is it? With such serious wounds, how could you not know to come back?"

Jiang Yunchu looked at the wound on Kang Nai Xin's arm; with limited medical conditions outside, these children, why don't they come back to have a look?

"Dean, on the day we left, we already cut off our retreat."

"If the war doesn't end, we won't come back—either victory or death." That little girl, looking into Jiang Yunchu's eyes, filled with admiration.