Chapter Thirty-Nine: That Kind of Guy, That Kind of Girl

Back at the Great Wall, command announces the counterattack. To silence doubters, Zetian and Li Shimin deploy the Vermilion Bird with Yizhi on board and win an effortless defensive battle, after which Hundun activity ceases. Strategists expect a decisive clash on Hundun turf in two weeks as other Chrysalises arrive to reinforce.

Adopting Bagua Zhang’s principle of flanking and deception, the trio plot to trap Senior Strategist An Lushan. On the night before the counterattack, while pilots party, they drug his food, abduct him to a testing chamber, and record an interrogation. They waterboard him with liquor, threaten his son, and force him to admit the “yin seat” has more passive input and less active input, meaning girls’ spirit pressure is dampened while they supply more qi for boys to drain.

The confession shatters long-held assumptions: so-called Balanced Matches were never equal; girls had to overcome an artificial dampener, dooming true Matches like Shimin and Wende. An Lushan claims it ensures boys return and recruits aren’t afraid, insisting “girls know how to sacrifice.” Enraged, Shimin tears off his army collar, and with Zetian, he drowns An Lushan, vowing larger plans ahead.

They return to their suite, where Yizhi reviews the footage amid kitchen noise and anti-surveillance cover. Shimin breaks down, then steadies as lanterns rise outside and Yizhi and Shimin share a first kiss; Zetian embraces the triad’s unity. They trim the video to the core confession and resolve to broadcast it to all Huaxia at the moment of victory in the coming counterattack.