Chapter Two: Isn't That Her Ex-Boyfriend?

The man known as Zhou Jingxuan lifted his head, and only then did Lin Zhaoyan clearly see his features.

He had swordlike brows, bright eyes, handsome and refined in a way as gentle as polished jade.

The only flaw was that this fellow shared the exact same face as her ex-boyfriend from modern times.

Lin Zhaoyan stood alone, utterly disoriented, her eyes widening as though she had turned to stone.

Unable to help herself, she stepped forward and studied him carefully from head to toe.

Zhou Jingxuan was tall and slender, yet his manner and bearing were anything but proper, lacking the stiffness one might expect from his neat and handsome appearance.

Seeing Lin Zhaoyan stare at him so intently, he looked puzzled, his eyes full of confusion. With a careless clasp of the hands, he said with complete nonchalance, "Zhou Jingxuan pays respects to the general."

Entirely unlike that ex of hers.

Thank goodness. For a moment she had thought that after she dumped Zhou Jingxuan, he had come chasing after her into this ancient age for revenge.

"You have no manners!" King Zhou shot out a flying kick and landed it squarely on Zhou Jingxuan's backside.

Zhou Jingxuan bared his teeth, shot his father a resentful glare, then reluctantly bowed with proper respect. "Greetings, General."

Though this eased her suspicions somewhat, Lin Zhaoyan still tried a cautious probe. "Forty-seven?"

"...?" Zhou Jingxuan frowned in bafflement. "Is the general speaking some sort of secret code?"

King Zhou also fell into thought, seeming genuinely to puzzle over her words.

Lin Zhaoyan hurriedly waved her hands. "No, no, I was just talking nonsense. My lord, please do not take offense."

Best not. She did not want to be mistaken for a lunatic.

She looked again at Zhou Jingxuan, her expression complicated.

That rainy night of their breakup, on the Twenty-Four Bridges,

Lin Zhaoyan held an umbrella in one hand and coolly dropped the words, "It's over."

Zhou Jingxuan let his hands hang at his sides. He clenched his fists, then let them go weakly. "Why?"

"I don't like you anymore." Her brows and eyes were cool, distant, as though he were a stranger.

And who could have known that only a few hours earlier, the two of them had been hiding in the stairwell, kissing deeply?

Zhou Jingxuan gave a mocking laugh, half self-mockery, half derision. "Yes, I should have known. Someone as coldhearted and unfeeling as you has never held true affection for anyone."

Lin Zhaoyan only stared at him, then threw the umbrella in his direction. Zhou Jingxuan pressed his lips tightly together and watched the umbrella strike the ground, splashing up filthy water.

She turned and left, not leaving him a single word. A few minutes later, Zhou Jingxuan walked away in the opposite direction.

Neither of them noticed that black clouds were roiling across the night sky. A bolt of lightning tore through the desolate dark and came crashing down in an instant, followed by thunder that seemed to split the eardrums. It struck the bridge without deviation, swallowing the sound of the world in a single blow.

She had never imagined that after breaking up with Zhou Jingxuan, even after crossing into another age, she would still meet him again.

Although he did not know her.

What a wretched fate.

In modern times, the two had been competitors in business, yet Zhou Jingxuan had relentlessly pursued her.

In this dynasty as well, he was just as hauntingly persistent.

Lin Zhaoyan exchanged a few polite words with King Zhou, then turned and left.

She no longer wanted any entanglement with Zhou Jingxuan.

Lin Zhaoyan clenched her fists. The poison in her shoulder was already spreading, the pain extending to her heart in a scorching wave.

Zhou Jingxuan's expression remained calm, but his gaze followed Lin Zhaoyan's retreating figure without once wavering.

Cold sweat broke out on his forehead. He clutched his chest, his face contorted with pain.

"What are you making that face for? I didn't even hit you that hard, you little brat, and you're already putting on an act?!" Seeing Zhou Jingxuan's exaggerated performance, King Zhou grew furious. He yanked off his boot and was about to bring it down on him.

"Help! Murder! Father is trying to kill his own son!" Zhou Jingxuan smeared his soles with oil and fled faster than the wind.

That night, by the campfire.

Song Ziji handed the roasted squab to Lin Zhaoyan, who tore off half and passed it to Xia Wan.

"This King Zhou is a hereditary prince specially ennobled by the former emperor. Because he made great contributions in founding the dynasty, the former emperor granted him exceptional honor. The Zhou family has inherited the title for generations, enjoying immense wealth and privilege," Song Ziji explained to Lin Zhaoyan.

Xia Wan shook her head. "What a pity. King Zhou is valiant and wise, yet his only son, Zhou Jingxuan..."

"Zhou Jingxuan," Lin Zhaoyan repeated the name. "Is he of poor character?"

"The number one spendthrift in the capital. Good for nothing, idle and pleasure-seeking, addicted to the pleasure quarters, utterly useless," Xia Wan said with obvious disdain.

He was rather like her ex, in fact, except that her former boyfriend had looked incapable, while in truth he was formidable.

When they competed for the same project, even she, who had weathered countless storms in the business world, had suffered several setbacks.

"He came with King Zhou. On the surface, it was said to be for study, but in reality he was here to cause trouble. These past few days he has driven me nearly mad, always messing about in my area and rifling through my medical books."

Lin Zhaoyan could not help laughing. "Can he even read them?"

Then she thought of how her ex had also loved rummaging through medical books and tinkering, and her smile stiffened.

"How could he understand any of it? He was even holding the books upside down!" Xia Wan said in contempt. "Just a spoiled wastrel."

She always overthought everything. Why was she like this?

Lin Zhaoyan remembered the psychologist's advice and sighed helplessly.

"Recently, why are you always cooped up in your room reading medical texts? Is there some difficult matter?" she asked cautiously.

Xia Wan looked evasive. "I... I just have a medicinal herb I'm interested in, and I wanted to study it a little."

Lin Zhaoyan sighed. "Actually, I already know. Why hide it from me? Rather than conceal it, you should tell me everything so I can plan the next steps properly."

At her words, Xia Wan bit her lip, worry and guilt written across her face.

"This is my fault. Please believe me, General. I will definitely find a way to develop an antidote!" Xia Wan grasped Lin Zhaoyan's hand and solemnly promised. Lin Zhaoyan only gave a faint smile in return.

Her subordinate's loyalty was beyond question, but what about her ability? On that point, Lin Zhaoyan remained unconvinced.

Now that she had come to this time and place, she could not simply wait for death. She had to seek a cure herself.

While the others were speaking, King Zhou came over with his hands behind his back, still cursing under his breath, "Little brat, little brat!"

"Why is King Zhou so angry?" Song Ziji asked.

"Ah! It will only make the generals laugh. I had intended to bring my foolish son to pay a visit to you all tonight, but somehow he has gone off wandering again." King Zhou looked worried.

"In this pitch-black night, the heir should not have gone far," Xia Wan said.

"I've sent men to search around the camp. When he returns, I will certainly—"

"My lord! This is bad. We found the heir's sachet on the northwestern border!" A guard came running up in haste to report to King Zhou.

The four exchanged looks. King Zhou looked as though he might collapse.

Lin Zhaoyan said, "Then send some men to search along the border... I'll lead the team."

"That would not be proper. The general's illness has not yet recovered; I should go instead," Deputy General Song offered.

"The camp needs a guiding hand. Deputy General Song should remain here to steady morale and coordinate the overall situation," Lin Zhaoyan arranged decisively, leaving no room for argument.

After several days of observation, Song Ziji had proven himself steady and thorough, truly a man for important duties. Keeping him here would allow him to play the greater role and prevent the enemy from turning back for a surprise attack.

As for King Zhou, his status was high and weighty, and his only son could not simply be left unfound. Leading a search herself would also show her attitude.

After making all the arrangements, Lin Zhaoyan immediately took a detachment of soldiers into the mountains and deep forest to search for Zhou Jingxuan.