After a long while, Lian Huan spoke, as if he had an idea, “Recall Lei Yunzai. We’ll go see Na Xiu. Whether we return or not, let her decide!” After speaking, he plucked a white flower from the Jiema tree and placed it in Ye Pei’s hair, smiling, “Men are not as simple as women think, and women are not as weak as men believe. Knowing clearly, yet pretending not to know, this is not Na Xiu’s nature. She will choose, and we need only follow. We’ll set out early tomorrow morning. Let’s not do heartbreaking things anymore.”
Under the white flower tree, the cold wind blew, scattering petals like snow, bit by bit, recalling the vows once made…
Eleven people looked up at the sky, no longer confused. What remained was only persistence!
Huairou, Tiandu, Ice Thorn Palace, Back Mountain.
“I said I wanted to sunbathe, not come to such a remote place!” Huang Beishuang sat in the grass, watching Qingyun feed the horses. Seeing her health improve, Qingyun had brought her out to walk the horses, deliberately coming to such a secluded spot.
Qingyun smiled, patted the horse’s rump, letting Feita play on its own, then walked over to her, “I’ll build a villa for you here. In the future, only I can come to see you. How about that?”
“Fine!” Huang Beishuang snorted, “Then you’ll live here with me. However long you stay, I’ll stay. When you leave, I’ll leave too. How’s that?”
Hearing this, Qingyun’s face darkened. He held her tightly, saying with a hint of anger, “Can’t you be like an ordinary woman, thinking only of me, waiting only for me?”
Huang Beishuang looked at him, “You’re not an ordinary man. Would you fall in love with an ordinary woman?”
Stumped by her words, Qingyun laughed, lifting a lock of her dark hair to his lips for a light sniff, “How’s your body feeling?”
Huang Beishuang nodded, her gray eyes meeting his, her thin, delicate shoulders pressed tightly against his chest, “It’s fine!”
Qingyun’s eyes darkened slightly. He spread his cloak on the grass, then began to remove her clothes, piece by piece, placing them beside him. The cold air couldn’t penetrate between them; only kisses repeatedly called forth an endless craving.
When together, they never mentioned the changing affairs of the outside world, because they both knew it would only waste this sweet time. Neither could bear to do that, not even for a moment…
Before you, my heart allows everything you imagine!
Fallen City Ruoshui.
Contrary to King Jing Tian’s expectations, Ruo Wen not only didn’t directly entangle with Yunpei but forcefully took away a piece that was originally in his hands. Even more extreme, he backed Fentian while still able to command the national army at any time. Although it was something he had abandoned, it still irresistibly turned towards him, as if that was its only direction.
In the Ruoshui city manor, Ruo Wen had a period every night when he would sit alone in a room without lights, allowing no one to disturb him. The room had nothing but a bed, even the windows were sealed shut. Once the door closed, it was pitch black.
He would sit there on the bed, motionless and silent, plunged into darkness so thick he couldn’t see his hand before his face. Only his heavy breathing mixed an unusual heat into the air, something that belonged to him, something he couldn’t control himself. Only in the darkness could he fully sense it.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Metal clashing against metal. With eyes open but seeing nothing, it was impossible to tell if he was striking a sword with a knife, or a knife with a sword, or perhaps it was that spear with the ring mark, beating against his heart…
In any case, in the darkness, sounds could be heard, but their source was unknown.
“Leader!”
Surprisingly, at this moment, Manhu called him from outside the door. His voice sounded extremely nervous as if he had mustered great courage to disturb his rest, standing by the door, occasionally coughing a few times.
“What is it!” From the pitch-black room, Ruo Wen’s voice came from an indiscernible location.
“Luo… Luoying has news to report!” Manhu pressed against the door, stammering in reply: “Huang Beishuang… seems to have died!”
Crash! The door fell, and moonlight shot into that dark room, illuminating only Ruo Wen’s feet under the door’s shadow. He stood inside the doorway, like a fierce ghost.
“Did you see the body?” Ruo Wen looked at Manhu.
“No. It’s just a rumor!” Manhu scratched his head, unable to see Ruo Wen’s expression, his face full of terror, “Should we… bring the body here?”
Hearing this, Ruo Wen stepped forward, his entire body suddenly appearing in the moonlight, his face ice-cold, “What do I need the body for? Find her for me!”
“But… how can we find her if she’s dead?” Manhu asked stupidly.
Ruo Wen burst into laughter, “Her life is tougher than mine. How could she die so easily? Find her!”
Manhu nodded, “That’s Luoying’s job then. Leader, you should rest! Tonight, do you want…”
Hearing this, Ruo Wen ruffled his short hair, saying nonchalantly, “Call Ruo Lanfeiwen to come!”
Until now, he had abandoned countless women, including Ge Xinwei, but he had never abandoned Ruo Lan and Feiwen. Speaking of men’s thoughts, sometimes it’s truly just a simple instinct. For him, these two women were like saddles. He couldn’t speak of cherishing them, but after getting used to them, there was an indescribable need, especially when he was unsatisfied. Although they could only temporarily extinguish his passion, it was enough. Enough to make him not abandon them.
The loneliness of the desert became more apparent in contrast to the oasis. The once melodious copper bells no longer rang. What remained were only frenzied hoofbeats, only the clang of gongs and drums. After three sounds, they led out vast armies, facing off against enemies. For country, for family, for self, yet in the process, more land was obliterated, and more lives were wrongfully lost.