Before dawn, Su Muchen hurried back to Guichen Studio, quickly transporting the supplies Su Qianqian had prepared overnight to the Northern Frontier Administrative Office.
He did not even have time to sit down and catch his breath before taking several of the most important items straight to the South Courtyard.
When he pushed open the door, Xiao Yuan, Xia Lanshi, and Xiao were already inside.
Xiao had changed out of his usual eye-catching crimson round-collared robe and put on a dark, camouflage-patterned combat outfit suitable for concealment. His wrist guards and leather boots were tightly fastened, outlining his tall, lean, and agile figure. His long hair was also tied high into a neat ponytail, making his entire person seem cold and formidable, as though he could blend into the shadows at any moment.
The moment Su Muchen approached, his gaze inadvertently swept over Xiao’s face before landing on his lips.
There was an obvious injury there.
Out of a doctor’s instinct, Su Muchen opened his mouth and was about to ask, “What happened to your mouth?” But the moment he met Xiao’s unmistakable “Don’t ask” look, he suddenly understood and forcibly swallowed the words that had reached the tip of his tongue.
“Ahem… Put the things down.”
Su Muchen hurriedly instructed the guards to carry the cardboard boxes inside, then personally closed the door.
He swiftly opened the boxes and took out a military portable solar charging panel and a portable energy-storage power bank.
“Qianqian said this set was specifically reserved for you. And this…” Su Muchen took a brand-new phone out of the bag and handed it to Xiao. “Qianqian prepared it for you. It’s the same model as the one I’m using now. It’s a clean, empty phone with only the necessary programs installed. The battery is fully charged.”
Xiao took the phone, his fingertip rubbing over its cold casing as he unlocked it and checked it once.
His usually sharp gaze softened, and the corner of his lips curved into an extremely faint smile.
“She is as precise as ever. She doesn’t need me to say anything and already knows what I need.”
Su Muchen’s movements paused slightly. Then, while continuing to organize the supplies, he said casually, pretending to be relaxed, “They’ve been taking very good care of Guichen Studio. They go to your old place every week to clean and air it out. And those plants on your terrace—they’ve been taking care of them personally too. Not a single one has died.”
At those words, a complicated ripple passed through Xiao’s eyes.
He had already made up his mind that before everything was settled, he absolutely would not return to the modern world.
He had always thought that he had long since severed all ties and attachments to that world, like a passerby who could leave at any moment.
But hearing this now, he suddenly realized.
It turned out there had always been someone there keeping a light on for him, protecting the vitality within that room.
It turned out there were still people waiting for him to return.
He was not without attachments.
It was simply that he had always been accustomed to keeping people at a distance.
Back then, he had felt there was no need to cultivate those emotions. After all, if the Gate restarted, everything would return to zero all over again.
But now… things seemed to be different.
Next, Su Muchen took the specially made protective tactical vest for a Gatekeeper from the bottom of the box and handed it back to Xiao.
Xiao looked at the equipment he had thought he had lost and raised an eyebrow in slight surprise.
“You’re about to go deep into enemy territory to carry out a mission. You need this vest more than I do now.”
Seeing that Xiao seemed about to refuse, Su Muchen immediately raised a hand to stop him, adopting the imposing air of a chief logistics officer.
“Don’t worry. I’ve already asked Qianqian to get more for me. There are three more. Once they arrive, we’ll have one each. We just have to wait a few more days.”
As he spoke, he seemed to remember something and stuffed a small smoke grenade, anti-riot spray, medical kit, and tactical folding knife all back into Xiao’s hands.
“I also asked Qianqian to prepare a batch of these self-defense supplies. We’ll all have our own allocations later. Keep your own things for self-defense.”
Watching Su Muchen’s smooth and effortless “supply distribution” operation, Xiao felt both speechless and amused, but a trace of warmth flowed through his heart. He no longer refused and methodically put all the equipment into the large tactical backpack.
Once the equipment had been checked, Xiao slung the heavy backpack over one shoulder and turned around, preparing to head to the stables.
He looked at the people inside the room and said calmly and firmly, “There’s no need to see me off. I’ll be back in three days.”
Xiao Yuan looked deeply at him and said in a low voice, “I’ll trouble you. Remember, caution comes first. If you encounter an uncontrollable danger, prioritize preserving your life and retreating. If the intelligence is lost, we can investigate again. But if the person is gone, this game of chess will truly become a dead end.”
“I know. Your Highness need not worry.”
Su Muchen still could not let go of his worries and could not help questioning him like an overprotective mother.
“Did you bring everything? Did you bring your medicine?”
“I brought everything.”
“Did you sleep last night?”
“Yes. I slept for a while.”
“Then don’t take that sleeping pill at night for the next few days. Otherwise, it might affect your neural responses and alertness.”
“Got it.”
“And when you’re in the wilderness, absolutely do not drink untreated water. No matter how thirsty you are, boil it first. If you happen to get infected with parasites, it’ll be troublesome.”
“…Mu’an.” Xiao finally stopped helplessly.
“Hmm?”
“I’m not a three-year-old child.”
“I know. You’re a top-tier Gatekeeper.” Su Muchen glared back at him with complete justification. “But I’m still going to worry about you.”
Xiao froze for a moment, then smiled helplessly.
“Then I’m leaving.”
He waved his hand and left the South Courtyard.
◆◇◆◇◆
Although Xiao had said there was no need to see him off, Xia Lanshi still silently followed him all the way to the stables.
Most of the Northern Frontier’s warhorses had fierce temperaments. Especially Huiye. Normally, anyone who approached would be greeted by its neighing and a kick from its hooves.
Yet when Xiao entered the stable, the tall, snow-white warhorse immediately became docile, as obedient as a hunting dog waiting for its master to come home.
Xia Lanshi stood to the side, quietly watching as Xiao smoothly put the reins on Huiye and fitted the saddle.
Although he had witnessed the harmony between this man and horse before, considering the danger of this journey, Xia Lanshi still could not help worrying.
“Is Huiye really okay? Its temperament is fierce. Should we switch to a steadier warhorse?”
“No need.” Xiao stroked Huiye’s mane, his gaze gentle. “Huiye and I could be considered old acquaintances.”
Xia Lanshi immediately understood.
In countless previous iterations, Xiao must have fought side by side with Huiye before.
He could not help asking with some amusement, “Since you already knew it, why did you still have me name it back then?”
Xiao’s hands paused. He turned his head and revealed a faint smile.
“Because I wanted to know what name you would give it this time.”
He tightened the saddle buckle and continued, “Your ideas are different every time. But I like all of them.”
The moment the words left his mouth, Xiao suddenly remembered their argument the previous night.
His heart tightened, and he glanced sideways at Xia Lanshi, afraid that the other man would think he was comparing him to the “Xia Lanshi” from the past and become upset.
However, Xia Lanshi merely stood quietly in the morning light, those beautiful pale-red eyes gazing gently at him, as though he could see straight through the uneasiness in his heart.
“There’s no need to be so cautious.” Xia Lanshi’s voice was warm and mellow, carrying a trace of relief. “I’m not so narrow-minded that I would get jealous of my former ‘self.’”
Although hearing Xiao mention the past would occasionally give rise to an indescribable, subtle feeling in his heart, he knew very well that being jealous of himself was truly the stupidest thing in the world.
Xia Lanshi stepped forward and took something from inside his robe, gently handing it to Xiao.
It was a small sachet with extraordinarily exquisite embroidery.
Xiao took it and looked at it. On one side of the sachet, silver thread embroidered a snow owl proudly standing atop a branch of winter plum blossoms. When he turned it over, there was another snow owl quietly perched beside several orchids.
Winter plum blossoms on one side, orchids on the other.
One proudly standing amid frost and snow, the other elegant and self-contained.
He suddenly felt that the two designs looked remarkably like the two of them.
He could not help remembering what Xia Lanshi had once said:
“Once a snow owl recognizes its partner, it will remain with them until death, faithful for life.”
But at that time, he had not dared to respond.
Xiao brought the sachet close to the tip of his nose, and a cool, familiar fragrance of ink orchid and snow tea quietly lingered around him.
The incense filling inside carried Xia Lanshi’s unique scent, a smell that made him feel incomparably at ease.
It was just somewhat faint.
“You’re going on a mission, so I only put in a little incense. I’ll refill it for you after you come back.”
Xia Lanshi said this as he spoke.
Unconcealable delight surfaced in Xiao’s eyes. As though he had received a priceless treasure, he carefully placed the sachet into the pocket closest to his body.
“Thank you.”
After saying that, he leaned forward and placed a solemn kiss on Xia Lanshi’s lips.
There was no lust in it, only affection so full that it was almost overflowing.
Seeing him like this, a gentle smile also appeared at the corners of Xia Lanshi’s lips.
Xiao took a neatly folded handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to Xia Lanshi.
Xia Lanshi reached out and took it, gently unfolding it. A faint fragrance of cold plum and burning wood immediately spread through the air.
Looking carefully, he realized that it was the embroidered handkerchief he had given Xiao before. He had not expected Xiao to have kept it with him.
Xiao said softly, “Keep it for me for now. Give it back to me when I return.”
“Okay.”
Xia Lanshi put the handkerchief inside his robe.
But when he thought of the dangerous situation Xiao was about to enter, his expression once again became solemn, and he tirelessly reminded him again,
“It doesn’t matter if you can’t get the intelligence. As long as you’re alive, there will always be a way to solve the problem. Don’t force yourself.”
“Mm. I know.”
Xiao gazed deeply at Xia Lanshi, greedily tracing his features with his eyes, as though he wanted to carve this image firmly into his bones and blood.
“I will definitely bring back the intelligence you want. At the same time, I will bring this life of mine back to you, completely intact.”
He leaned slightly forward and whispered softly beside Xia Lanshi’s ear, “When I come back, I also have something to give you, and some things I want to tell you.”
After saying that, he gave a mysterious smile.
“Okay. I’ll wait for you to come back.”
Xia Lanshi had no idea what he was plotting, but he simply smiled and agreed.
However, Xiao did not straighten up. Instead, he lowered his voice even further and spoke in a tone carrying a trace of coldness—
“If there’s a dog that barks and bites people for no reason, then we should find it some work to keep it busy.”
Xia Lanshi thought about the meaning of those words for a moment before answering, “I’ll remember.”
The sky was still dark, but Xiao did not linger any longer.
He swiftly mounted the horse, took hold of the reins, and looked at Xia Lanshi. Before leaving, he gave one final instruction.
“I won’t be here for the next few days. Eat your meals on time and take good care of yourself. Don’t wait until I come back and find that you’ve worked yourself sick again.”
“Mm. Go.”
Xiao suddenly flicked the reins. Huiye let out a clear neigh and shot forward like a streak of snow-white light.
Several personal guards sent by Xiao Yuan outside immediately mounted their horses and followed, escorting him out of the Northern Frontier military camp.
After confirming that he had left along the predetermined route, they would serve as the support team ten li away.
Xia Lanshi stood alone in front of the empty stable, watching that figure rapidly disappear into the morning mist. His right hand unconsciously touched the white jade peace clasp around his wrist.
Ever since Xiao had come to the Northern Frontier and stayed by his side, he had not had this little habit for a long time.
It was clearly only a short separation of three days, yet the unease in his heart still spread uncontrollably.
Only when the sound of hoofbeats had completely faded into the distance did Xia Lanshi slowly withdraw his gaze.
He suppressed all the warmth in his eyes, and his voice became as cold as if it had been tempered in ice.
“Come out.”
Two covert guards, as silent as ghosts, appeared from the shadows without a sound and knelt on one knee.
“Set up along the predetermined retreat route. There is no need to follow him. Leave one rendezvous point at intervals. If he loses contact, search the points one by one according to the agreed schedule. If he discovers you, the mission is considered a failure.”
“I want him to come back alive.”
Xia Lanshi lowered his eyes, his fingertips slowly tightening.
“If it truly comes to an irreversible situation…”
He paused for a moment, his voice carrying a chilling decisiveness.
“At any cost, bring him back.”
“Alive, I want the person. Dead, I want the body. Not a single inch may be missing.”
“This subordinate obeys!”
◇◆◇◆◇
The news that Doctor Su had officially been appointed as a military staff officer of Prince Su’s residence spread as though it had grown wings. Within half a day, it had traveled throughout the entire Northern Frontier Administrative Office, as well as the Eastern and Western Camps outside Linbei City.
The speed at which the news spread was no accident.
Xia Lanshi had even deliberately arranged for several seemingly insignificant subordinates to mention the matter in different settings.
The best way to hide someone had never been to make him disappear, but to make everyone stare at the wrong target.
However, this newly appointed Su Staff Officer was treated by Prince Su like a fragile piece of porcelain. Unless Prince Su personally led the team, he was not permitted to take even half a step outside the rear courtyard of the Administrative Office.
There was no other reason.
The “hiding the tree within the forest” plan Xia Lanshi had devised was only formally placing its first piece today.
In the faint morning light, Chi Banyue led a young man into the main room of the West Courtyard.
She pointed at him, her tone as casual as if she had picked a cabbage at the market.
“Su Staff Officer, this kid is Mu Li. He’s the one who’s going to disguise himself as your double from now on.”
Su Muchen was still somewhat unaccustomed to the new title “Staff Officer,” which was full of military overtones.
He raised his eyes and carefully examined Mu Li before him.
This man’s height was similar to his own, and his build was slender and lean. There was none of the cold hardness or killing intent commonly found in covert guards between his brows and eyes. Instead, there was a restrained scholarly air about him. His skin was the pale color of someone rarely exposed directly to sunlight.
If he put on the same robes as Su Muchen and wore a white gauze veil hat, it would indeed be extremely difficult to distinguish the real from the fake.
“Don’t let his scholarly appearance fool you.”
Chi Banyue crossed her arms over her chest as she introduced him. “He spent three years working his way through the military medical camp. He is completely capable when it comes to treating external injuries, suturing, bandaging, immobilizing fractures, and preparing commonly used military medicines. Although his skills are not on the level of a top covert guard, he’s more than capable of protecting himself and protecting his master. For the next seven days, he will stay by your side without taking a single step away, observing and imitating your gait, habits, and even the tone and timbre of your voice.”
Su Muchen did not immediately nod. Instead, he stepped forward and said gently, “Extend your hand, palm up. Let me take a look.”
Mu Li repeated in a low voice, “Extend your hand, palm up. Let me take a look.”
Su Muchen was slightly taken aback. The voice actually sounded somewhat similar to his own. He immediately realized that Mu Li had already begun imitating the tone and timbre of his voice.
“Not quite.”
Mu Li paused slightly.
“The ending is too low. When I speak, I raise it slightly at the end.”
Mu Li nodded and silently memorized it.
He then extended both hands as instructed.
Su Muchen lowered his head and examined them carefully.
Chi Banyue’s eye for choosing people was indeed sharp. These hands were long and well-proportioned. There were no thick calluses on the fingertips or the web between the thumb and index finger from years of wielding a sword, nor were there any gruesome knife scars. They truly looked like the hands of someone who had spent years holding a brush and practicing medicine.
A person’s build could be modified with clothing, and their appearance could be concealed with a veil hat or altered through disguise. But hands that had wielded knives for years and hands that had practiced medicine for years were ultimately different.
Su Muchen was very satisfied with this detail.
“Turn your hands over.” Su Muchen continued giving instructions.
Mu Li turned both hands over as instructed.
Su Muchen stared at his fingernails for a moment before saying, “Your nails need to be trimmed clean.”
He extended his own hand for Mu Li to see.
Mu Li glanced at it.
Those hands were so clean and fair that even the fingernails were neatly trimmed, without leaving any length at all.
Watching Su Muchen’s meticulous attitude, a trace of approval flashed through Chi Banyue’s eyes as she continued, “It will take about seven days to learn. To avoid attracting attention too early, his long hair will only be cut short the day before he officially takes your place.”
Su Muchen nodded, then looked at Mu Li, a trace of apology flashing through his clear eyes.
Ancient people placed great importance on the body, hair, and skin, believing that hair was bestowed by one’s parents, and damaging or cutting it was disrespectful to one’s ancestors and parents, violating ethical principles.
He had read in books that ancient times even had a punishment called shaving, a method used to strip a person of their dignity and social status.
To cut off one’s long hair for the sake of a mission was no different from a form of humiliation, not to mention…
“I’m sorry. You’ll have to cut off your hair, and this job may face assassination at any moment. It’s extremely dangerous.”
Mu Li, who had been quietly standing by with his eyes lowered, raised his head at those words.
He looked at Su Muchen for a moment. There was no fear or ripple in his calm eyes. He only replied steadily,
“It is my duty.”
Seeing that the handover had gone smoothly, Chi Banyue gave Mu Li a few more instructions before turning around and leaving briskly.
The moment she left, the room door was pushed open from outside.
Xiao Yuan entered the room wearing a dark robe with subtle patterns, carrying an imposing presence that could not be ignored.
“Your Highness.” Mu Li immediately bowed respectfully.
Xiao Yuan gave a slight nod, his gaze examining him as though confirming something.
Then his eyes landed on Su Muchen. The originally stern features around his eyes and brows unconsciously softened by several degrees.
“Now that you are this prince’s Staff Officer, you cannot simply stay in the courtyard reading account books. Come with me outside the city to inspect the wounded soldiers’ camp.”
In the past, for the sake of Su Muchen’s safety, Xiao Yuan had only allowed him to move around the wounded soldiers’ camp within the city.
This was the first time he was taking Su Muchen to a place where forces from all sides were mixed together.
Su Muchen’s spirits immediately lifted.
He knew very well that this was by no means simply an “inspection.” It was a plan to officially put him on the stage.
He immediately turned around to get his outer robe, but the moment his hand touched the fabric, his movement suddenly stopped.
He turned to look at Mu Li beside him and frowned slightly.
“What about him? Banyue said he has to stay by my side without taking a single step away for these seven days. But if he goes out with us wearing this face, what if someone remembers what he looks like? Wouldn’t that expose us when he replaces me later?”
Xiao Yuan glanced at Mu Li, his tone indifferent yet carrying an unquestionable authority.
“Mu Li, go change into the face of an ordinary medicine boy. After you finish disguising yourself, meet us in the front courtyard.”
He paused before adding, “From today onward, you are not anyone’s double. You are merely the most inconspicuous medicine boy at Su Staff Officer’s side. I want no one to be able to connect an ordinary attendant with Su Staff Officer.”
“This subordinate obeys.”
Mu Li bowed and accepted the order, but did not immediately withdraw. Instead, he respectfully added, “Your Highness, Chief Administrator Xia has another order. During these seven days, this subordinate must assist Staff Officer Su in disguising himself as this subordinate.”
Xiao Yuan’s gaze shifted slightly, and he immediately understood the deeper meaning behind this arrangement.
Su Muchen would first wear Mu Li’s face, while Mu Li would temporarily wear the face of a medicine boy.
Later, even if spies noticed something strange, they would become completely lost amid layer upon layer of truth and falsehood.
Xia Lanshi had always acted with meticulous calculations.
Xiao Yuan gave a slight nod, tacitly approving the proposal.
Under Mu Li’s skilled hands, Su Muchen’s appearance gradually changed bit by bit.
Looking at his increasingly unfamiliar reflection in the bronze mirror, even the contours of his features had come to resemble Mu Li’s by seventy or eighty percent. Unless someone looked closely, they would definitely think they were identical twin brothers.
This disguise technique was not the kind of miraculous human-skin mask described in storybooks. Instead, it relied on extremely advanced cosmetic techniques, with some special adhesive materials padded onto the transitions of the bone structure.
These materials were not very breathable when plastered onto the face, and they created a faintly tight sensation. After a long time, it was difficult to guarantee that no flaws would appear.
Fortunately, once they went outside later, he would also wear a layer of white gauze over his face, which would be enough to conceal these tiny imperfections.
Just as he was thinking this, Mu Li suddenly took out a fine wolf-hair brush, dipped it in some specially prepared pigment, and gently dotted it beneath the outer corner of Su Muchen’s right eye.
Su Muchen glanced sideways at him. “And this is…?”
“My mole.”
Su Muchen raised his eyes and carefully examined Mu Li before finally noticing that there really was a light-brown tear mole beneath the outer corner of his right eye.
“…Even this has to be copied?”
“Of course.” As Mu Li put away the brush, he calmly explained, “Someone who has seen you may not be able to accurately remember the contours of your brows and eyes, but they can easily form a deep impression of this kind of distinctive minor feature.”
Su Muchen was secretly startled and could not help looking at this seemingly scholarly and frail covert guard in a new light.
This meticulous understanding of human psychology was indeed flawless.
Once everything was ready, Mu Li quietly withdrew to disguise himself as the “medicine boy.”
Only the two of them remained in the room.
Xiao Yuan slowly walked to the desk and looked down at Su Muchen’s current appearance, his gaze moving back and forth as he confirmed that there were no fatal flaws.
However, his handsome brows were slightly furrowed, as though he simply could not get used to this face.
Su Muchen lifted his head and asked with some curiosity, “How is it? Can you still tell it’s me?”
Xiao Yuan stared at him. His tightly furrowed brows gradually relaxed, and an exasperated yet indulgent smile appeared at the corners of his lips.
He shook his head.
“I could tell at a glance.”
Su Muchen was stunned. His brows furrowed slightly, and he looked somewhat frustrated.
“I’ve disguised myself like this, and you can still recognize me? Where did I give myself away?”
Xiao Yuan lowered his head. His deep eyes looked straight into Su Muchen’s eyes, and he sighed softly.
“These eyes of yours. How could this prince not recognize them?”
Those clear, pure eyes, which seemed capable of seeing through everything while still carrying compassion, were a radiance that no cosmetics or false mask could conceal.
Xiao Yuan picked up the white gauze veil hat that had already been prepared on the table and personally placed it on Su Muchen’s head.
The light white gauze cascaded down like flowing clouds, instantly concealing Su Muchen’s disguised face in a hazy veil. Only the faint outline of his slender, upright figure could be seen, adding several degrees of mystery and distance.
Through the thin white gauze, Xiao Yuan gently lifted his chin with his long fingers. His low voice carried a trace of forcefulness that brooked no argument.
“Remember, from now on, once you walk out this door, you are only that unfathomable ‘Su Staff Officer.’ No matter what happens, you are not allowed to remove this veil hat.”
Through the hazy gauze, Su Muchen’s bright eyes curved into a smile as he gave him a light, cooperative tease.
“Yes, Your Highness.”