Morning reached Bing Ya fortress slowly.
The light was weak and cold, doing little to warm the stone. Shadows pulled back from the walls bit by bit. Somewhere in the distance, armor scraped against the ground. A horn sounded once, low and short, then went quiet again.
Liang Wei woke before she was called.
She stayed still for a moment and listened. The space she had been given was narrow and plain, more storage than shelter. The smell of oil and old cloth lingered in the air. Her sword lay where she had left it, wrapped and close enough to grab without getting up.
Her head ached a little, not enough to stop her, just enough to remind her of the night before. The pressure sat behind her eyes. She took a few slow breaths until it eased.
She rose, adjusted her robes, and bound her hair tighter than necessary. When she stepped outside, the cold met her first, then the sound of the fortress fully waking.
Soldiers moved with purpose across the courtyard. Servants passed along the edges, keeping their heads low. The banners overhead shifted in the wind, their shadows sliding across the stone like dark water.
Liang Wei took the outer path.
She stayed close to the walls, where pillars blocked the view. From there, she could see most of the courtyard without standing out. She did it without thinking.
Across the open space, officers gathered near the central steps. Their posture was stiff, their voices lowered.
Zhao Lingxiao stood before them, not as a guest, but as a messenger bearing the will of the Central Kingdom.
He did not speak loudly. He did not need to. His presence tightened the air around him, drawing attention without effort. A royal decree was read at his side, its words carried outward by another voice. Men straightened when he looked their way. Conversations quieted as he approached, words cut short or lowered.
Liang Wei did not look at him directly. She noticed the change around her instead. People slowed. Voices dropped. The courtyard felt tighter. She lowered her eyes and kept walking.
High above, Wei Yunfeng watched.
He leaned against the stone railing like he had nothing to do. From a distance, he looked unremarkable. Up close, his eyes missed nothing.
Wei Yunfeng felt a faint unease settle in his chest.
It was not her appearance that stirred it. Many young soldiers carried themselves with quiet confidence. It was the way she waited. She didn't rush. She kept her distance.
Lu Jianyu had taught that.
She adjusted her grip on the sword at her side, not to draw it, not even to prepare, only to keep it from knocking against her leg as another group of soldiers passed too close.
Wei Yunfeng's fingers curled once against the stone.
Below, Zhou Yuliang crossed the courtyard. He moved with the authority of someone long chosen to command. Soldiers stepped aside before he reached them. His eyes moved over the courtyard, never stopping for long.When they passed over Liang Wei, they paused.
She felt it immediately. She kept walking, but tension crept up her back. She shifted slightly, letting another soldier step between them. She didn't look back.
Zhou Yuliang continued on, his expression unchanged. Still, when he reached the steps, he paused. "Who is that one," he asked quietly.
The man beside him leaned in, careful not to be overheard. "He came in after the last engagement. Name given as Liang Wei. No unit yet."
Zhou Yuliang nodded once. He did not ask further questions. His attention shifted elsewhere, already absorbed by other matters.
Wei Yunfeng exhaled slowly.
Later, orders were passed.
Liang Wei was told to escort a small supply group past the inner gates. On paper, it was an easy task. Keep the carts moving and avoid trouble. Be back before dark. She accepted without comment.
The group gathered near the gate as the sun rose higher. Everyone was quiet and tense. Liang Wei placed herself where she could watch the road ahead and keep an eye on the men behind her.
Wei Yunfeng joined them shortly before they left. Officially, he was there to observe.
The journey was quiet at first.
Then, near a narrow stretch of road by a ravine, voices rose ahead. Something moved among the rocks above them. The guards reacted at once, hands going to their weapons, but Liang Wei stepped forward before anyone else could act.
She moved into view, standing where everyone could see her. One hand rested on her sword. She didn't threaten them, but she didn't back away either. "Leave," she said.
The men blocking the road hesitated. They had been ready for shouting or violence. They got neither. One of them rushed her. She turned slightly and knocked him off balance with her shoulder, sending him stumbling without cutting him. Another stepped forward, then froze when she looked straight at him. Her gaze didn't waver.
It ended fast.
The carts were set back in motion, wheels creaking as the line moved forward again.
Wei Yunfeng watched as she slipped back into place without pause. Her breathing was steady. Her stance stayed the same. She didn't chase the men away. She didn't say anything more than she had to. She treated the whole thing like it was already finished.
That, more than the fight itself, stayed with him.
Back inside the fortress, the news spread quietly.
No one made a show of it. No one added extra details. People only said that the escort returned without losing anyone.
Zhou Yuliang read the report without changing his expression. He gave a brief nod and reassigned Liang Wei, placing her under temporary command. From that point on, her movements were noted and followed.
She had shown she was useful. That did not mean she was trusted.
As evening settled in, Liang Wei avoided the upper paths where Wei Yunfeng was often seen. She took longer routes instead, moving through narrow walkways where the walls were close on both sides. When she was finally alone, she unwrapped her sword just enough to clean it.
The blade caught the dim light and brightened in her hand.
The glow was stronger than before, spreading along the metal as her fingers tightened around the hilt. She felt it settle in her palm. When she loosened her hold, the light faded. She cleaned the blade carefully and wrapped it again.
She had other names, but this one was easier to carry.
Somewhere above, a man remembered a general long dead, and did not yet know why.