Chapter 267: Love Has Near and Far, People Gather and Scatter

She left, silently and without a word.

She left no explanation, no reason, only a thin sheet of paper with three simple words: I'm gone.

Those three words pierced Jiang Mingyu and Tukesulu like a blade, exact and sharp. They looked around in confusion, but Zhang Jiaqi's figure was gone.

She vanished without notice, leaving no trace. The guard at the city gate mumbled that she had set off alone at noon, seemingly returning to her homeland, Xiangcangzhou.

Jiang Mingyu returned to his room but could not sleep. He picked up Zhang Jiaqi's letter and read it again, searching for a clue, a hint, a trace of emotion. But he found nothing—only those three cold words, stabbing into his heart.

He did not understand why Zhang Jiaqi had done this, why she had suddenly left, why she had been so cruel to him. Had there been no feeling between them at all?

They had weathered storms together, walked through hardship together, laughed in joy together. Their love, though not eternal, had been pure and sincere.

He admitted that his love for Zhang Jiaqi was less than his love for Liu Yifei. He admitted that his trust in Zhang Jiaqi was less than his trust in Tukesulu. He admitted that his loyalty to Zhang Jiaqi was less than his loyalty to himself. He admitted that his duty to Zhang Jiaqi was less than his duty to the people. He admitted that his future for Zhang Jiaqi was less than his future for himself.

He admitted that he had not been enough for Zhang Jiaqi.

But he had not been unkind to her. He had not been uncaring. He had not been inattentive. He had not been ungentle. He had not been ungenerous. He had not been unthinking of her.

He had given her something too.

He remembered the day they met, the time they came to know each other—Zhang Jiaqi had been a loyal companion. He fought to defend his land; she supported his cause. They fought side by side, shared hardship and joy, supported each other.

He remembered the moment they parted—he, a worried commander; she, a strong woman. He prepared for the coming war; she fulfilled her mission. They bid farewell with tears.

He remembered the night they met again—he, a joyful lover; she, a sorrowful lover. He celebrated his victory; she concealed her pain.

He remembered the night they lost each other—he, a helpless decision-maker; she, a silent departurer. He announced his engagement to Liu Yifei; she ended their love. They stood in silence, stared coldly, and went their separate ways.

He remembered—he remembered everything: their sweetness, their sorrow, their joy, their pain, their love, their hatred.

He remembered—he remembered too much, too much, too much.

Jiang Mingyu felt hollow, and asked himself: Had he done something wrong, hurt Jiaqi's heart? But then he thought again—his marriage to Yifei was settled, with no other option. The warmth he could give was ultimately limited.

Perhaps this was fate. Perhaps she was always meant to be like a wind, suddenly entering his life, then vanishing without a sound.

He sighed, forced himself to set aside emotion, and focused on the great task before him. The people needed him; he had no time to wallow in self-pity.

With a heavy heart, he silently bid farewell to Jiaqi's memory. Their past had become mist and smoke. He could only wish her a bright future, happiness and peace.

The bright moon above cast cold, vast light, just as the loneliness in his heart. Tomorrow, he would raise his sword beneath this moonlight, don his armor, and bear the hopes of his land. They were destined to be apart, yet her shadow would forever remain in his heart.

Love has near and far; people gather and scatter. He had made his choice; she had followed fate away. Now he could only walk forward with a pure heart.

The moonlight flowed like water, cold and quiet. Jiang Mingyu stood outside his tent, gazing alone at the crescent moon, his heart filled with deep worry. Tomorrow morning, he would lead his fifty-thousand-strong army toward the capital.

The capital—a place brimming with power and conspiracy. It was like a malignant tumor, poisoning the once-prosperous nation. Now, that tumor had to be cut out.

The army fell silent in the night, broken only by occasional bugle calls. Jiang Mingyu's eyes gleamed with resolve—he knew what lay ahead. This was a battle of life and death, a fight for ideals, for the nation.

The next morning, Jiang Mingyu woke early. He ate a hurried meal, then went to the main camp. There, fifty thousand soldiers stood ready, fully armed and waiting.

Jiang Mingyu stood on the high platform, looking down at the camp below. His gaze was firm; a faint smile touched his lips. He knew this was the most important battle of his life—the last. He would use this battle to close the chapter of his life: for his country, for his loved one, for his brothers.

He recalled last night's farewell with Liu Yifei. He held her, kissed her forehead gently, and said: "Tomorrow, I march on the capital. This is my final mission. When it's done, I can live peacefully with you. Wait for me, all right?"

Liu Yifei gripped his hand tightly, tears streaming down her cheeks: "You must be careful. You must come back alive. I'll wait for you, love you always—no matter what, I won't leave you."

Jiang Mingyu squeezed her hand, moved: "I love you. I'll come back. I promise."

They embraced and slept, unaware if this was their final meeting.

He raised his voice: "Soldiers! We are about to embark on a battle that will decide the fate of our nation. This is the final moment to destroy the Da Feng Dynasty—the most crucial fight. Many of you have followed me since the Linzhang Campaign, braving death with me across wastelands. Tens of thousands of comrades fell. Today, we fulfill our vow: defeat Fe Hou, overthrow Da Feng!"

At Jiang Mingyu's words, the camp erupted in cheers—roaring like a tidal wave, stoking the fire in his heart. He continued: "We must take the capital, capture Fe Hou! Full army—advance!"

At Jiang Mingyu's command, fifty thousand soldiers surged from the city like a flood. Their steps were firm, their eyes resolute. In this moment, they were true warriors, true heroes.

During the march, a personal guard suddenly asked Tukesulu: "Where's your little sister-in-law?" Tukesulu glanced at Jiang Mingyu instinctively and snapped: "Mind your own business!" The guard saw Jiang Mingyu's expressionless face and shrank back, silent.

After a moment, Jiang Mingyu said sternly: "Hurry up. We must rendezvous with Zhuge Yu soon—time is short!" The soldiers, understanding, quickened their pace. The army moved like a gale, crossing mountains and valleys, heading straight for the capital.

During this long march, Jiang Mingyu's thoughts were no longer on his vengeance against the fallen kingdom, but on the lives of his soldiers. They were his brothers, his comrades. They saw him as their supreme leader, willing to die for him. Their eyes burned with the desire for victory; their hearts were filled with loyalty to the nation.

Jiang Mingyu felt the weight on his shoulders grow heavier. He must lead them to victory. He must fulfill their hopes. He could not let them down. He could not let them die in vain. He must use his wisdom and courage to guide them to triumph.

At this critical moment, Jiang Mingyu had placed his personal feelings and grudges far behind. His mind held only one goal: seize the capital, kill Fe Hou! He had no time for anything else—not even Zhang Jiaqi's whereabouts. His eyes saw only the towering capital, the symbol of Da Feng's power. There lay his enemy. There lay his target.

Only one goal remained—seize the capital, kill Fe Hou! This was Jiang Mingyu's sole purpose. At this critical moment, he had buried his personal emotions deepest. He must concentrate all his strength to lead this army to victory. This was his duty. This was his honor. This was for the soldiers who fought for their nation. This was for the once-prosperous country!