Chapter 006: The Death of Ning Jiang

Duan Ningjiang said: "I don't know how, but he once inquired about your absence from the city. At that time, he said that with your abilities, you would surely be able to turn danger into safety"

Dan Fei sat quietly by Duan Ningjiang's body for a while, tears falling and wetting her clothing

Dan Fei noticed that no one responded to her follow-up, but she was unfazed. She simply bowed to the abbot and pushed open the temple door. Her slender and agile figure vanished in the blink of an eye into the wind and snow

After dawn, several men from the temple set out together down the mountain to gather information. Danfei took the initiative to follow them down the mountain

The mountain wind continues to howl incessantly, with the faint sounds of battle mixed in. Danfei is eager to descend the mountain to see for herself, but she is dissuaded by those around her

Duan Ningjiang looked at Danfei, his eyes reflecting the flames, shining brightly. "When we were besieged back then, before my elder brother prepared to break out and seek help, he mentioned you to me."

Duan Ningjiang struggled to part his lips, "Ayin ... ... Wei Jiayin ... ... "

Danfei's gaze shifted from the gray window to the flames in the fireplace, and suddenly, her whole body trembled as a chill seeped from deep within her bones

"Rest assured," Danfei said firmly, "since I have promised you, I will certainly fulfill it"

Duan Ningjiang closed his eyes, tears tracing down the corners of his eyes, "Father, he was shot with an arrow on the city wall, the arrow was poisoned, by the time he was brought down, it was already too late..."

Cui Jingyu? Dan Fei was quite surprised, her tone rather disdainful, "I saw him on the day of the siege. He was killing enemies at that time... Well, considering this incident, he is not too extravagant after all."

Nowadays, one can encounter Turkmen irregulars dressed in fur coats and wielding curved sabers everywhere. They plunder villages, set houses on fire, and indiscriminately slaughter Han people.

Danfei shook her head, "We did not see her"

Dan Fei was surprised and looked down, only to see Duan Ningjiang staring with vacant eyes

The next day, the person who had been gathering information returned excitedly, saying: "The war has begun! General Sha Zha has gone to war with the Turks!"

Abbot Dao: "In this sacred land of Buddhism, how dare the Turks come to invade? Donors, please feel at ease and stay here."

The people in the temple were all stirred with excitement upon hearing the news, as if they had already heard the sound of the victory horn

In the cold winter months, the frozen ground was hard, making it difficult to bury Duan Ningjiang. Therefore, the people gathered firewood and cremated Duan Ningjiang's body, placing the ashes in a jar, which was temporarily stored in a temple. The abbot led the young monks in performing a small ritual for Duan Ningjiang, to help her attain peace.

Why did he want to kill you

Duan Ningjiang shook his head with difficulty, "I was supposed to escape the city with her. The pursuers were closely following me, and she must have been frightened... We had already hidden, but she seized the horse and ran away, drawing the pursuers to us..."

Duan Ningjiang! Dan Fei called softly

My husband said that with the Lingwu Army present, General Shazha will surely drive the Turks away

Do not overthink it. "Danfei sighed, "What is the situation in the city?"

Duan Ningjiang gave a bitter smile and said, "My cousin is proud and arrogant, but he is not a bad person. If he has offended you in any way, I apologize on his behalf."

The Turkic soldiers erupted into loud laughter, their faces displaying a cruel coldness and smugness, as if this were merely a light-hearted jest. The Turkic man who had been wielding the knife sheathed his weapon and shouted a few words in Turkic, to which the crowd responded before riding off.

In the dream, the sea of fire resembled the underworld of Yanluo, and the father pointed to the south, instructing her to seek the white deer

Rest assured. As we are classmates, I will certainly fulfill your wish

"She is still so young..." Danfei choked up, feeling a wave of helpless sorrow

A few days ago, the old acquaintance they had just met now appeared before them in a dying state, making Danfei most vividly and profoundly aware that they had indeed been defeated

The father died two years ago in the battle against the Turkic marauders. She had thought that her father's death would at least bring a few more years of peaceful life, but she did not expect that a grand war would arrive so suddenly.

Duan Yiyun is like that piece of candy she never had in her childhood, always so sweet; yet when she remembers it, it also evokes tears of regret and sadness

"Impossible!" Danfei's voice was sharp and piercing, "Where is General Duan?"

Someone touched her finger

Duan Ningjiang shook his head firmly, gazing deeply at Danfei, and said: "You would not. You possess a spirit of chivalry and the grace of a heroine, and you would never commit such an act of betrayal! Moreover... moreover, my brother lost his life to deliver this item out of the city! Can you bear to let his sacrifice be in vain?"

Duan Ningjiang, however, knew that she had been persuaded. This bet was not placed in vain

I fear that ... ... it won't work ... ... she is your friend, isn't she?" The woman who was helping Danfei sighed and got up to leave

After entering the mountains that day, Dan Fei walked eastward. Deep within the mountains, there was a temple. Although the incense offerings were not as prosperous as those in other temples in Sha Ming, its remote location made it an excellent refuge.

Danfei closed her eyes in deep sorrow for a moment

Duan Ningjiang slowly nodded and said: "Originally, I resented the heavens for giving me such a meager fate. Yet, to encounter you on the last day of my life is indeed my good fortune. I am already beyond help, but you, and only you, can assist me in completing this matter. However, this task carries immense responsibility and is fraught with difficulties and dangers... I fear that if something were to happen to you, it would be I who drags you down... Would you be willing?"

Having spoken, she exhausted her strength and collapsed onto the couch, tears streaming down her face. It took quite a while for her to calm down. She has been running a high fever and her body is extremely weak; after becoming agitated, she inevitably began to breathe heavily and cough lightly.

Duan Ningjiang spoke in one breath until this point, becoming so agitated that she began to cough, spitting out blood. Dan Fei hurriedly wiped her clean.

Danfei looked at her bare wrist

This is Duan Ningjiang dressed in men's clothing. Her condition is so dire that Danfei momentarily hesitated to recognize her. The black clothing is soaked in blood, and her petite body is covered in wounds from knives and guns. Her complexion is pale, her breath is weak, and she could pass away at any moment

Dan Fei, by the candlelight, carved a memorial tablet for Duan Ningjiang

As the city was on the brink of collapse, Duan Yiyun did his utmost to escort the young lady out of the city. Unfortunately, the Turkic soldiers relentlessly pursued them, and Duan Ningjiang was severely injured. Duan Ningjiang had at least seven or eight wounds on his body, some of which were deep enough to expose bone, with blood flowing incessantly. Danfei applied medicine and bandaged him, but the blood quickly soaked through the cloth strips.

I will descend the mountain now and enter the city to save my mother. Who among you wishes to accompany me

Duan Ningjiang, having regained his breath, said fiercely: "If it were not for Wei Wen selling weapons to the Turks, we might not have lost today's battle. Wei Wen sent people to hunt me down, precisely to silence me. This scoundrel truly deserves to be cut into a thousand pieces. My entire Duan family, along with the common people of Shaming, will turn into vengeful spirits, haunting him day and night, dragging him into that Asura hell, where he will be fried and roasted, ground into meat and bones, never to be reborn for eternity"

I have only shared a classroom with her. It is good that she has gone off to save herself... I never expected that in the end, it would be you who would accompany me on this journey

Our village has been completely burned down, and even if we have driven away the Turkic slaves, how are we to live in the days to come

What happened to Sha Ming?" Dan Fei rushed over in a single step and grabbed the man's collar

This group of people returned only at noon, their eyes red and shaking their heads incessantly

The people in the temple were all in a state of uncertainty and anxiety. Those sent to gather intelligence on the military situation had not returned for a long time, their fates unknown. Their families could no longer hold back their tears.

Who

Why would the Turkic soldiers pursue a girl? Even if they know she is the daughter of General Duan, there is no need to expend effort to ensure her death

Every time she wakes up, Danfei finds it somewhat difficult to distinguish whether she is in a dream or in reality. She feels that the events she experienced today are indeed akin to a ridiculous nightmare

In the corner, with no one else around, Danfei lay down beside Duan Ningjiang.

Duan Ningjiang's voice gradually faded, and the light in his eyes seemed to be extinguished like a candle flame blown out by the wind. In an instant, everything returned to silence

Many others in the temple also had relatives trapped in the city, but they feared the Turks. They believed that rather than presenting themselves to the Turks for slaughter, which might not even save their relatives, it would be better to wait a few days until the Turks had plundered enough and left, and then enter the city to collect the bodies of their loved ones

Danfei was perplexed, keeping her eyes open until dawn.

Duan Ningjiang took a deep breath and said softly: "The ones pursuing me are not the Turkic soldiers, but assassins sent by the King of Shangluo"

Yeye said... after the New Year... he will take me back to Chang'an... cousin...

The abbot uttered "Amitabha" as the cold wind accompanied Danfei on her journey

Although they had only met twice, Danfei instinctively trusted him due to his unwavering actions in charging out of the city to fight the enemy and save the people. However, Hongling was the horse given to Danfei by her father, and it had been borrowed by him, with no certainty of its return. She could only hope that he would cherish Hongling well

Dan Fei noticed that her tone was off and forced herself to calm down. Duan Ningjiang had always been proud, yet she was of good character and was a woman of insight and courage. Although Dan Fei had never liked her, at this moment she couldn't help but admire and respect her resilience and open-mindedness

Shaming is a significant commercial hub, facilitating communication between the north and south. Whether it is the various tribes of the grasslands or the merchants of the Tang Dynasty, all conduct business here. Consequently, a customary agreement has been established among all parties to refrain from engaging in hostilities in this area. Several border conflicts have occurred, yet none have affected the city of Shaming.

Duan Ningjiang said: "I have a cousin named Cui Jingyu. You two have met before."

"The bracelet... was taken away when Wei Jiayin escaped..." Duan Ningjiang said with a bitter smile, "So, if you have the chance to see Wei Jiayin again, try to take that bracelet back. Then, hand it over to someone."

Dan Fei remained silent, her lips tightly pressed together, her deep-set eyes fixed intently on Duan Ningjiang

What does the white deer signify

The Turks have acknowledged the Tang Dynasty for so many years, why are they once again resorting to arms? Is it true that the Turkic Khan Mo Chuo is as the legends say, a warmonger who dares to invade the territory of the Tang Dynasty!

How can this not evoke a sigh from people

The abbot approached and said softly, "This benefactor has already departed from the sea of suffering and has passed away. I kindly ask you to take care of your grief."

Dan Fei's thoughts were in disarray; at one moment, she recalled her mother calling out to her at their parting, and at another, she thought of Duan Yiyun, clad in battle armor, with bloodshot eyes from killing. Occasionally, the figure of an unnamed man riding away on a red horse flashed before her eyes.

The abbot, seeing that she had made up her mind, knew that her departure would likely lead to more misfortune than good fortune, and could only shake his head in helplessness

The Turks have surrounded the city, and General Duan Deyuan is guarding the city gate. The scattered Turkish soldiers are everywhere, burning houses and killing people. The nearby towns and villages have all been deserted, with the populace either dead or fleeing. I see that this place is not suitable for long-term residence either

I trust you. " Duan Ningjiang's breath grew weaker, holding onto Danfei's hand tightly, he said, "My brother... greatly admires you... it's just a pity... a pity..."

Nowadays, the valleys are filled with Turkic cavalry roaming about, rushing into Han villages whenever they are spotted to burn, kill, and plunder. Countless common people have fled with their families into the mountains, seeking refuge in temples. Danfei escaped into a temple, where a young monk led her to the backyard, where she stayed in a Zen room with a group of women.

Before the incident occurred, my father had already sent those pieces of evidence to Chang'an. Duan Ningjiang continued, "I originally had a hollow bracelet, the pattern of which is the same as this jade token. Inside it was a handwritten letter from my father. With this letter, I could go to Chang'an to find my wet nurse, Madam Zhu, and retrieve a package. The package contained a batch of aged tea, and the evidence was hidden within it."

General Sha Zha, a loyal and valiant commander, is indeed an experienced veteran of the battlefield, leading an army of 80,000 men, and defeating the Turkic slaves with ease is merely a trivial matter

At the end of the second year of the Shenlong era, the Turkic army invaded the border. The Grand Commander of the Lingwu Army, Sha Zha, loyal and righteous, led an army of 80,000 to assist Shaming County and engaged in battle with the Turkic forces

A Jiang ... ... "Dan Fei held back her tears, grasping Duan Ningjiang's cold hand, "You are fine now. It is very safe here ... ... "

It is truly ... ... too painful.

General Sha Zha was defeated ... ... eighty thousand people ... ... Sha Ming ... ...

The beggar, hiding in a room, was driven out by the smoke of the fire. The Turks laughed loudly, surrounding him, trampling him with their horses' hooves and whipping him with leather whips. The beggar was half-dead from the mockery, his body covered in wounds. Finally, one of the Turkish soldiers drew his curved sword and violently struck off the beggar's head. Blood gushed from the beggar's neck, staining a large area red.

The temple suddenly erupted in chaos

Suddenly, with a loud bang, the temple door was burst open. The cold wind and swirling snow rushed in, and several people stumbled inside.

Dan Fei thought that in Sha Ming City, there were still General Duan and his son working in concert with General Sha Zha, which gave them a considerable chance of victory. She tried her best to calm herself down and not think about that strange dream

"Do you trust me this much?" Danfei said with a bitter smile, "Aren't you afraid that I might turn around and take these things to seek refuge with Wei Wen, in exchange for wealth and glory?"

The person lying unconscious on the ground let out a sound. Danfei looked down and her eyes suddenly widened, exclaiming in surprise.

Dan Fei's heart raced like a drum, and in a hushed voice, she said: "Duan Lang truly holds me in high regard, I am genuinely ashamed He ... ... "

Dan Fei frowned, already having a vague estimation in her mind. What Duan Ningjiang was concerned about was naturally the matter of Wang Weiwen of Shangluo.

General Duan has died for his country... all are dead... the Turks have invaded the city, setting fires and killing people...

Not every fifteen-year-old girl can face life and death with such composure

Danfei's hands and feet are cold, and she understands in her heart

The man's face was as pale as paper, his whole body trembled, his eyes were hollow, and he cried out in near collapse: "We have lost! We have lost!"

In a daze, her cold palm was grasped by him. Dan Fei came to her senses and met Duan Ningjiang's pair of clear eyes.

Danfei, like others, did not truly find comfort in the abbot's words. However, in the current icy and snowy conditions, there is nowhere to go, and all that remains is to wait in the temple with great difficulty

Dan Fei noticed her gaze beginning to lose focus and silently exclaimed that it was not good, quickly saying: "You must hold on!"

Daphne trembled all over, getting up and then sitting down again, repeating this several times. Tears streamed down her cheeks, yet she was unaware of it, her eyes burning with a fire of anger and sorrow

Duan Ningjiang remained silent, his expression somber, and he must have had an understanding in his heart

Duan Ningjiang's pale face broke into a subtle smile as he said, "Everything I can explain... has already been said..."

Little did one expect that the Turks would disregard the stance of other tribal alliances in the steppe, openly marching in invasion, like a crazed wild wolf, rudely and violently intruding into the peaceful world of the Central Plains

How could she forget? The dream she had just last night!

Danfei hid behind the large tree, her heart instantly sinking like that of a frozen lake bed

After a long while, Danfei finally said softly: "What do you want me to do?"

Danfei felt a whirlwind of chaos and collapsed to the ground. The sounds of weeping and shouting around her enveloped her like a hallucination. It was as if she were in an ice cave, with all her blood frozen, and even her heart could not beat.

Duan Ningjiang

Danfei wiped her face vigorously and stood up. She stood tall, her gaze sharply sweeping over the crowd, with cold flames burning in her eyes

She only wished to stay by her mother's side, to distance herself from disputes, and to lead a peaceful life, but heaven always seems to thwart one's wishes

Duan Ningjiang gasped for breath and said, "Afei, I don't have much time left. Come closer, I have something to tell you."

Dan Fei held Duan Ningjiang's limp and powerless hand, suddenly feeling a sense of sorrow akin to the grief of one thing for another of its kind

These words are imbued with infinite reluctance and desolation. Dan Fei was speechless, while Duan Ningjiang finally shed tears.

"My mother is trapped in the city; how can I stand by and do nothing? The night is when the defenses are weakest, and that is when I can seek an opportunity to infiltrate the city." Danfei secured her bow and arrows, firmly fastening her curved dagger and dagger to her waist, "In times of national crisis, even if I cannot kill the enemy to serve my country, I must strive to rescue my family!"

The Turks have besieged the city of Shaming.

What she remembers most vividly is the image of Duan Ningjiang in the girls' school, dressed in luxurious attire, exuding an air of nobility and reserve. As the daughter of the governor, she is the most esteemed woman in Shamingdi, and with her youthful beauty, how could she not be proud

Dan Fei laughed scornfully, "What are you scared of? Clearly, she saw you being chased and was afraid of being implicated, so she abandoned you and ran away, right? She ran away, but still caused you to be exposed, showing that she didn't consider your situation at all"

Her mind suddenly became a bit chaotic, as she recalled fragments of several girls bickering out of boredom in the girls' school, and then thought of Duan Yiyun's gently smiling face towards her, unsure of what to say.

Dan Fei's expression was solemn, yet there was an undeniable hint of sadness that she could not conceal. This reminded Duan Ningjiang of the times when Duan Yiyun would occasionally come to the girls' school to pick up his sister after class, and the way Dan Fei looked at him, revealing a kind of scholarly admiration. Duan Ningjiang had once secretly mocked Dan Fei for her infatuation. Unexpectedly, now she intended to leverage these feelings to seek Dan Fei's assistance.

"The benefactor must not act impulsively," the abbot hurriedly said. "Currently, the Turks are burning and killing in the city. If you go down now, it would be like a sheep entering a tiger's den. Moreover, it is dark and windy at this time, making travel difficult. What will you do if you encounter a fierce beast?"

An atmosphere of sadness and fear permeated the entire house. The women huddled together, some trembling, others silently sobbing. Their homes had been destroyed, their loved ones were missing, and their futures were uncertain, leaving them unsure of what lay ahead.

I still do not understand the character of Wei Jiayin?" Danfei sneered, "If she were to save you, you wouldn't be injured like this. I suspect she might have intentionally exposed you!"

What about Duan Yiyun? Is he truly protecting the people in the city? Will the Liu family and mother be able to escape this calamity?

Even if we drive the Turks away this time, who knows when they will come again? Had I known this would be the case, I should have left this cursed place with my relatives back then

This statement struck Danfei like a bolt of lightning. She was both shocked and puzzled. Wang Weiwen of Shangluo, being the cousin of Empress Wei, held a high position and was far away in Chang'an; how could he possibly be connected to Sha Ming?

The sounds of battle echoed throughout the entire day, only ceasing in the evening

The man said: "When we encountered her, there were several people chasing her with the intent to kill. The young lady was crying for help. Upon realizing it was a woman, we killed those pursuers and brought her up the mountain."

"No... it's impossible," Danfei murmured, "How could an army of 80,000 be... in just one day..."

Duan Ningjiang continued, "My elder brother... he fought desperately to break through, leading his personal soldiers to carve out a bloody path for the citizens in the city to escape. The last time I saw him, he was already surrounded by the Turkic army, and I do not know how he is faring now"

At the end of the second year of the Great Tang's Divine Dragon era, while the common people were busy preparing for the New Year goods, the Turks quietly launched a massacre. Taking advantage of the heavy snow that sealed the borders as cover, the Turkic Khan Mo Chuo moved his troops southward without a sound, launching a surprise attack on Sha Ming and besieging the city.

She was always meticulous in her every frown and smile, constantly cautious and composed, fearing that she might tarnish her identity as a noble lady from a prestigious family. Raised with such exquisite care, surrounded by attentive servants, and nurtured in an atmosphere of respect and luxury, she became a dignified and delicate young lady of the aristocracy, only to end up dying in such a wretched and miserable state on a straw mat in an ancient temple.

After all this was done, it was already late at night

Duan Ningjiang's breath had become very weak, the girl's originally plump cheeks were sunken, her eyes showed a deathly gray, and her forehead was dim, presenting a picture of utter exhaustion and depletion

Dan Fei sat quietly in the corner. After nightfall, the wind rose in the mountains, its sound resembling the roar of a malevolent spirit. The women were too frightened to sleep, and there was always someone crying incessantly. Throughout the night, Dan Fei was haunted by the echoes of her mother's farewell cries, drifting in and out of sleep.

She wanted to praise Duan Yiyun a few more times, but those words seemed to carry thorns; once spoken, they would leave her bruised all over, causing unbearable pain

Duan Ningjiang's pale face was adorned with two unusual flushes, yet her spirit was remarkably high. Dan Fei looked on, her heart sinking suddenly, realizing that this was a moment of fleeting vitality.

The women let out screams, and the family members rushed over to embrace their husbands. A wave of a bloody scent spread through the air

The man, with tears streaming down his face, cried out: "The Turks have taken Shaming City!"

Danfei also smiled wryly and said, "Those are merely the childish antics of play. In this time of national ruin and family loss, such grievances are hardly worth mentioning. We have been classmates; if you have any matters, feel free to entrust them to me. I will do my utmost to assist you"

Duan Ningjiang, however, remained calm and composed, smiling as he said: "In the past, I always looked down on you a bit in the girls' school. I never expected that in the end, I would have to trouble you once. I feel quite ashamed."

A flash of anger appeared on Duan Ningjiang's face as he gritted his teeth and said: "Wei Wen has privately opened an iron mine, forged weapons, and even secretly sold them to the Turks! My father noticed this matter and intended to submit a memorial to the Emperor. However, someone leaked the information, and Wei Wen found out, threatening and intimidating my father multiple times to hand over the evidence he had collected! Just before the city fell today, my father sensed something was amiss and instructed me to break out of the city with that evidence and go to Chang'an to report Wei Wen!"

Duan Ningjiang gave a bitter smile, "You are always so sharp."

Duan Ningjiang handed a jade tablet the size of a walnut to Dan Fei, "This is the jade tablet my grandfather gave me at my birth, and all my family members recognize it. I trouble you to take my ashes to my aunt's in-laws, the Cui family; they will arrange for my afterlife."

Dan Fei was taken aback, thinking she had misheard.

Danfei held her hand tightly, remaining silent for a long time

This is not the first time Danfei has witnessed a murder, yet she remains shocked, terrified, and angry

Duan Ningjiang's gaze surrendered to the void, and that smile became increasingly sweet, as the withered and haggard face suddenly burst forth with a radiant brilliance

Danfei felt it was inappropriate to ask a dying person to apologize, and hurriedly said: "It's just a minor quarrel, it doesn't matter. Do you want me to deliver the letter to him? Where is he?"

I broke out of the city with him, but unfortunately, in the chaos of war, we were separated. However, we had made an agreement that if we got separated, he would wait for me at the Tai'an Tower in Yuanzhou. Although he is somewhat proud and aloof, he is a person of integrity and worth trusting. Please tell him that he promised to send me the Kunlun slave... I fear that I may not be able to see him again... Please tell him that he promised to send me the Kunlun slave... I fear that I may not be able to see him again...

Dan Fei hurriedly carried Duan Ningjiang to the side of the stove, examining her injuries while asking, "This is General Duan's daughter, how did you come across her?"