Qin Yining used her own hands to cool Lu Heng’s fever.

It seemed laughable, but fortunately they were now in the bone-chillingly cold desert at night during this season, otherwise Qin Yining’s body temperature couldn’t possibly be this low. However, for women of the Great Zhou and Great Yan, touching a man’s forehead with their hands was already extremely improper behavior.

Deep into the night, many people were exhausted to the extreme, huddling together for warmth and sleeping in dependence on each other.

Qin Yining kept one hand on Lu Heng’s forehead, curling up beside him, unknowingly falling into extremely light sleep.

The desert winds rose and fell intermittently, cutting like knives against their bodies with cold. Qin Yining didn’t know others’ situations, but she couldn’t sleep soundly.

In her dreams, she hazily saw a vast grassland where Pang Xiao rode a war horse with gleaming black coat galloping across the prairie. His azure cloak with crimson lining billowed behind him in the wind. Behind him was a patch of bright sunlight as he spurred his horse toward her, laughing as he called her name: “Yi Jie’er!”

Qin Yining couldn’t help but smile, softly calling: “Your Highness.”

The scene shifted, and she seemed to be in an ancient temple surrounded by green shade on a great mountain. Before her was a chaotic scene of slaughter.

Blood sprayed everywhere, battle cries shook the heavens. An archer climbed onto the opposite rooftop and shot an arrow at her. But she couldn’t dodge because behind her were her mother and grandmother.

Just then, Pang Xiao appeared before her like a deity, holding her tightly and blocking that arrow with his body. Hot blood splashed on her face. She screamed in fright, but Pang Xiao casually broke the arrow shaft and charged toward the enemy. She could still see the half-arrow stuck in his shoulder blade swaying with his movements, blood flowing from the wound.

Qin Yining cried out anxiously: “Your Highness!”

“Princess, wake up, wake up.”

Qin Yining felt someone gently pushing her and suddenly opened her eyes.

What met her gaze was Lu Heng lying on his side facing her.

Both of them were pillowing their heads on torn bundles, lying on the sandy ground. Above them, countless stars twinkled, reminding her where she was now.

Probably thinking by day and dreaming by night – she missed Pang Xiao, so she dreamed of their past.

This separation had been too long, and with her being in such dangerous circumstances, the fear that she might not survive to see Pang Xiao again would always sweep over her during the quiet depths of night when she was most vulnerable.

Qin Yining wasn’t made of stone either – she would feel fear and have emotions. It was just that her childhood experiences had taught her how to be strong. Most of the time she could remain rational and know what she could do and what she should do.

Like now, she didn’t want to appear weak in front of outsiders, nor did she want people to pity her because of it.

Qin Yining put away all her sorrows and smiled politely at Lu Heng, sitting up to test the temperature of his forehead.

“The fever has subsided somewhat. Second Master Lu, how do you feel?”

Lu Heng looked at Qin Yining, not missing her well-concealed vulnerability. Since she didn’t want to talk about it, he wouldn’t ask. He smiled and said: “Nothing much. How about you? I saw you sleeping very restlessly.”

Actually, he knew Qin Yining had a nightmare. He heard her murmuring “Your Highness” in her dreams. The sourness in his heart was beyond words – that pain of wanting but being unable to obtain, unable even to seek, was almost drowning him.

During this time of constant companionship, the more he was with her and witnessed her bravery and understanding, the more he grew to like her. Her intelligence impressed him even more. Not just him – her perseverance was also influencing the Minuo tribespeople, making everyone persist with gritted teeth for hope even on their journey.

When they first met, Lu Heng had been attracted by her beauty.

But through long companionship, he was drawn by her personal charisma.

Here in the desert where even drinking water was insufficient, let alone washing, she still maintained bright eyes full of hope like a little cat. In this boundless yellow sand, her eyes held starlight! Making people feel the future was full of hope.

Lu Heng knew he had truly fallen for her and accepted his fate.

Actually, he hadn’t been unconscious earlier – he was just too uncomfortable and exhausted, lacking even the strength to speak a word. So he closed his eyes to rest, trying to see if he could fall asleep, because sleep would make him less miserable.

But then she placed her hand over his forehead.

Her hand was ice-cold and so comfortable covering his head.

That was probably the closest distance they had ever been. Even knowing she was only trying to save his life, his heart still wanted to sing with joy.

If this woman would follow him, he truly would be willing to pile everything he owned before her, including his own life, just asking that she might also like him.

Sometimes Lu Heng truly wished he were a despicable person who could force possession of her.

But reason told him that the only way he could get close to her in this lifetime was to be her friend.

Because she was a principled and upright woman who, after marrying, would never be moved by other men nor give other men reason to approach her.

Her behavior made Lu Heng even more infatuated and more helpless.

Only when she was asleep did he dare look at her so openly.

Lu Heng thought many things, though it was actually just the space of a few breaths.

Qin Yining remembered her recent dream, knowing she had dreamed of when Pang Xiao, under the alias Young Master Yao, had rescued her at the Fairy Maiden Temple. Longing wrapped around her like entangling silk threads.

“Nothing much, I just had a nightmare,” Qin Yining said with a bitter smile. “But those were just dreams. Fortunately, reality won’t be as terrifying as in dreams.”

Lu Heng smiled and didn’t press further, though he envied Pang Xiao for winning her heart.

“Are you feeling better? Drink some water.” Qin Yining took the water pouch, supporting Lu Heng’s head with one hand while feeding him water.

Lu Heng only sipped once before turning his head away: “I’m not thirsty. I’m feeling better already. You drink some water.”

“You’re sick and need to drink more water. Have a few more sips.” Qin Yining fed him water again.

But Lu Heng turned his face away, refusing to drink: “I’m really not thirsty anymore. You drink some.”

“I’ve already had enough water for today.” Qin Yining smiled with pursed lips – because her lips were already cracked, too wide a smile would split them open.

Lu Heng looked at her hair full of sand and dust, her haggard complexion, her dry and cracked lips, and said with heartache: “Your lips are cracked. Don’t people say women are like flowers that need water to nourish them? I’m really not thirsty – you drink some water.”

Qin Yining helped Lu Heng sit up properly and forcibly fed him two more mouthfuls of water before carefully sealing the water pouch and hanging it carefully on Lu Heng’s belt, smiling as she said:

“You should have heard that women are made of water. Since I myself am water, naturally I don’t need to drink so much water.”

Her lips were so cracked she didn’t dare smile too widely, but Lu Heng thought she looked extremely beautiful right now.

His throat, burning with pain, felt somewhat better after being moistened by water. Lu Heng said: “Sleep a bit more. We still have to travel. You gave me the horse and walk yourself, which wastes a lot of energy. If you don’t sleep well, your body won’t be able to take it either. I know you’re not much stronger than I am.”

Hearing this, Qin Yining smiled and lay back down on the sandy ground, saying: “You sleep too. Rest well so your body can recover. With so many people in our group taking care of each other, the situation is much better than when we came. Set your mind at ease – I won’t abandon you. We’ll all be fine.”

That phrase “won’t abandon you” truly touched the softest place in his heart.

In such harsh circumstances, even biological siblings might not be reliable. Yet Qin Yining could give him such a promise.

Lu Heng’s heart felt both sour and soft, both happy and heartbroken. He hummed in acknowledgment and forced himself to close his eyes and sleep. Because if they continued talking, Lu Heng feared he would reveal the feelings hidden deep in his heart, frightening her and making her keep her distance.

He fantasized that he was lying in the canopy bed at home, and with Qin Yining at such close distance, she must be lying in the same bed with him. Brocade covers gleamed softly in orange candlelight, her long hair scattered on the pillow, her eyes curved as she smiled at him.

Thinking this way, Lu Heng couldn’t help but curve his lips into a smile.

Even if it was just daydreaming, being able to hold someone in his heart like this was happiness.

Soon after, Lu Heng felt a cool little hand fall on his forehead, just covering it there to cool his fever.

All the melancholy and unwillingness in Lu Heng’s heart vanished in that instant.

Living this lifetime, being able to meet her by fate, being able to be her friend, being able to share hardships and joys with her, spending days and nights together, even having her disregard propriety between men and women to use her cool hands to reduce his fever.

Having so much, he was already satisfied enough.

When dawn gradually showed its pale light, everyone resumed their journey again.

Though the desert was very difficult, this time because they brought tribespeople skilled at finding water sources in the desert, occasionally they would encounter oases where they could drink their fill, refill their water pouches, and even luxuriously wash themselves briefly.

They recorded the changes of sun and moon while constantly avoiding pursuing troops. After walking for half a month like this, they discovered that the endless yellow sand in the distance finally showed some boundaries.

Withered yellow grass, accumulated white snow.

They had finally walked out of this desert!

“We succeeded! We succeeded!” The tribespeople embraced and cheered. Some cried with excitement, tears washing two tracks down their dirty faces.

Qin Yining was also smiling. She glanced at Lu Heng, who was lying unconscious on the horse’s back, thin beyond recognition. Beyond her worry, her heart could finally relax slightly.

As long as they left the desert, Lu Heng would have hope of survival.

“Uncle Ar’han, watch the surrounding environment. Tell the tribespeople not to ignore their surroundings because they’re too happy. We’ve encountered very few pursuing troops along this route. I think the Khan very likely arranged people to guard outside the desert, just waiting for us to run into them.”