Heavy snow fell, wind swept across the four wilds. A year of planning, a year of calculating, so many painstakingly lonely turbulent nights, so many blood-stained border intelligence reports – all ultimately could not match a single piece of news about her, a bit of her suffering. Disregarding the entire nation’s opposition, acting independently to lead thousands upon thousands of troops, magnificently charging into Xichuan’s heartland, yet still facing such resolute determination.
Finally, still one step too late. Finally, still missing the opportunity. Finally, once again desperately passing by each other.
His entire life had been spent constantly missing her. In youth, seeking self-preservation, he cruelly pushed her away. Those broken crying voices still continuously echoed in his mind, startling him awake in cold sweats during midnight dreams. After returning to his country, he schemed painstakingly, probed carefully, and finally once again forced her to leave without a trace. Through twists and turns they reunited, originally thinking everything had become passing clouds, the future would be leisurely flowers reflecting the moon, wind clear and beautiful. Who knew that one careless move would lose the entire game, leading to becoming strangers at the ends of the earth.
Qing Xia, Zhuang Qing Xia, how cruel you are to despise and revenge me so!
And how weak I am, to be so unable to control myself and unable to forget my feelings!
Great winds howled. The pale woman sat high upon her warhorse in snow-white sable fur, cold and piercing to the bone, with peerless elegance and rarely seen clear beauty and proud bearing. She stood among the crowd, head raised looking at that proud and solitary man across from her with whom she was entangled in unbreakable bonds. The waves in her heart roared like a great sea, everything from the past flying up and down in her mind, stirring up snow and wind filling the sky, shattering the frozen lake surface.
That crown prince who first met her, holding her unconscious form and shouting for the imperial physician.
That desperate man roaring madly in raging flames.
That stubborn general in the cold palace who refused to admit his feelings, yet still made roundabout reminders for her to take care of her health.
That weary child who fought alongside her in the wilderness, was bitten by venomous snakes, and talked in his sleep during deep nights.
And the lonely gaze outside the capital city, the laughably stubborn late-night spear practice in the northern frontier camp, the desperate persistence on the desert sands, and that night of sleeping embraced together when first returning to the military camp – all tumbled and clamored in her heart, almost tearing Qing Xia’s heart in half.
Unfortunately, she was merely a mortal without the divine wisdom to perceive worldly affairs. She couldn’t see Chu Li’s bitter despair, couldn’t see Chu Li’s painstaking efforts, couldn’t see Chu Li’s comprehensive schemes. What she saw was only the wandering flames of war, cruel bloodthirsty killing, brutality that distinguished neither loyal nor traitorous, good nor evil. Without Qin Zhiyan’s reminder, even until now, she wouldn’t have known everything about the Xi Linyu family.
Chu Li, you could have explained, could have tried to keep me, could have told me everything. But you didn’t. If from beginning to end you wanted to squeeze me out, then what is this so-called love you speak of?
After prolonged confrontation, eternal unchanging wind passed between the several people. Chu Li’s horse suddenly stepped forward, as if making a great decision to yield a position. Behind him, an elderly man with aged features but clear expression, long white eyebrows and beard, slowly revealed his face in blue fur robes. Seeing Qing Xia, he smiled kindly, nodded faintly, gently extended his hand, and said softly: “Xia’er, come home with father.”
A northern white eagle suddenly swept overhead, releasing a sharp long cry. Qing Xia was stunned to see Zhuang Dianru standing beside Chu Li, his smile kind and benevolent, his eyes flashing with the radiance of wisdom, smiling faintly as he extended his hand toward her, remaining quietly silent. Meanwhile, Chu Li’s expression was gloomy, coldly looking at Qing Xia, also saying nothing.
“Third Highness, I am not a subject of the Qin state, not your minister. Please forgive this old man for not performing grand ceremony to Third Highness.”
Qin Zhiyan’s voice was rich and mellow as he smiled faintly: “Mr. Zhuang is today’s academic leader under heaven, full of knowledge and scholarship. It should be Zhiyan who pays literary respects to you, sir.”
Zhuang Dianru smiled: “Thank you, Third Highness, for extending aid to my little daughter. Thanks to Your Highness’s rescue, we father and daughter can have a reunion day. This old man is deeply grateful.”
Qin Zhiyan nodded, then turned to Qing Xia: “Yima’er, your father has come. If you want to return, I won’t stop you. If you don’t want to, no one will force you. You decide for yourself.”
Qing Xia was stunned, her brows furrowing tightly. How could he throw this question to her? How could he speak so lightly? But when she turned her head, she discovered that in Qin Zhiyan’s calm gaze, there was no longer the light and breezy lack of waves, no longer the distant mountain-like indifference. Since meeting her, he was no longer ethereally detached, no longer cold and indifferent. He too would lose reason, disregard the big picture. At this moment, he looked deeply at her with the gaze of a desperate gambler who had staked his last chips, cast the ultimate bet, watching wide-eyed for that blood-drenched result.
Either win the entire world, or have nothing at all.
Qin Zhiyan – his schemes were deep, his wisdom spanned ancient and modern times. He was extensively learned, calculated all under heaven. He was transcendent and refined, an elegant gentleman. How could such a wonderful person have such blazingly mad eyes?
Qing Xia knew the most important reason she ultimately leaned toward him, besides Qin Zhiyan’s boundless grace and peerless demeanor.
Because before Qin Zhiyan, she was merely Yima’er, while before Chu Li, she was still Zhuang Qing Xia.
Supporting herself on the saddle, she dismounted, stepped forward several paces, slowly walking toward the Southern Chu army. Qin Zhiyan’s expression was calm as water, but his gaze was tightly fixed on her. Chu Li’s expression was sharp, also like an eagle or vulture. Sparks flew in the air as thousands of troops focused their attention on that petite woman.
Suddenly, Qing Xia stopped, knelt on the ground, and kowtowed heavily, saying loudly to Zhuang Dianru: “Father, your daughter has sacrificed for the family her entire life, been welcomed and sent off by you, passed to others. What should be done, she has done. What should be repaid, she has repaid you. Now, she only hopes to live again, no longer bound by the name Zhuang Qing Xia. Please consider her dead outside Yao Pass, or consider her dead from cold arrows and poisonous beatings in the Southern Chu rear palace. From now on, Zhuang Qing Xia is extinct from heaven and earth. I am called Yima’er, from overseas, rootless and homeless, without country or kin. Please, Father, grant this.”
“What fine ‘rootless and homeless, without country or kin’!” Reckless laughter suddenly rang out. Great armies came whooshing, Yan Hui’s fragrant wind spread everywhere, great red and great wind, jeweled ornaments crowning the top, laughing loudly as he galloped near from afar. Beside him, Prince Qi An of Eastern Qi in bright yellow fur robes, face like jade, eyes like bright stars, rode a date-red fine horse, bringing Eastern Qi generals, instantly surging forth.
Between heaven and earth long winds stirred, clouds hung low in all directions. The four nations’ armies formed a pincer formation, gathering on the vast snowy hills with intimidating momentum.
Surrounded by the four directions’ troops, Qing Xia in white fur robes, matchlessly beautiful, knelt among the assembled armies, head raised looking up at the high horse heads in all directions.
Heaven and earth were vast and empty, all sounds silent. The gods’ eyes looked down upon the boundless earth, watching the chess pieces below stir up this chaotic world’s wind and cloud totem!
“Rootless and homeless, without country or kin.” A low voice suddenly rang out. Qi An leaped down from horseback, step by step walking toward the white-fur-robed woman kneeling in the center of the four armies, his voice cold as he said: “Then are you also heartless and ungrateful, without heart or conscience?”
Wild wind swept up from the ground. Qing Xia half-raised her head, watching Qi An’s gradually approaching figure. In the vast heavy snow, his outline was hazy and blurred. His bright yellow fur robes had dazzling brilliance under the brilliant golden sun.
Qi An’s expression was cold and cruel, his lips tightly pressed – his emotions unreadable. Step by step he walked before Qing Xia, then suddenly reached out his hand toward her face.
“Whoosh!” A cold light suddenly struck upward. The spear thrust like snow, brilliant radiance like lightning and thunderclap, swift as a bullet thundering up, fiercely stabbing toward Qi An’s throat!
In a flash, Qi An’s expression turned cold, his eyes flashed, immediately turning to dodge. His treasured sword instantly left its sheath, striking back at the silver spear like a silver snake.
“Clang!” A crisp sound instantly rang throughout the field. Chu Li’s form was tall and imposing, with sword-like brows and starry eyes, in cold battle armor that made him appear even more rebellious and elegant, brilliantly radiant as a star. Qi An’s brows and eyes turned cold, new hatred and old grudges surging together in his heart. He snorted coldly and swung his sword upward. Between the two men with Qing Xia in the middle, each suddenly extended a hand wanting to grab Qing Xia’s robe corner, but seeing the other had the same intention, they simultaneously moved to stop each other. Silver spear and soft sword struck like lightning, immediately clashing together, silver light flashing like dense heavy rain.
Just then, Qin Zhiyan, who had been standing quietly to the side, suddenly snorted coldly, drew the battle knife from a nearby guard, and threw it horizontally into the field. His weak body instantly burst with tremendous explosive power, his form graceful, charging into the field at incredible speed. With two crisp “clang” sounds, he struck Chu Li’s silver spear and Qi An’s soft sword.
When enemies meet, their eyes are especially red!
Compared to Qi An, Chu Li’s hatred for Qin Zhiyan was even greater at this moment. He suddenly gave a fierce shout, his spear edge turning horizontally, chopping fiercely down toward Qin Zhiyan’s battle knife.
Qing Xia was startled and cried out in alarm. This worried cry was like adding fuel to fire – Chu Li and Qi An immediately shared the same enemy, launching fierce attacks together against Qin Zhiyan. Though Qin Zhiyan was weak and sickly, his martial skills were excellent. However, the battle situation was unfavorable to him, and he had to constantly consider Qing Xia in the battlefield, which bound his hands and feet everywhere, preventing him from fully displaying his abilities. He immediately fell into disadvantage.
“Qin Zhiyan!” Qing Xia’s eyebrows flashed as she stood up. The four were already close together. With her movement, the several people’s weapons couldn’t control their momentum. Chu Li frowned, great anger blazing in his eyes, but he still quickly dodged to avoid her. Qin Zhiyan also leaped away accordingly. However, Prince Qi An of Eastern Qi, for unknown reasons, had cold light flash in his eyes as his soft sword suddenly stabbed fiercely toward Qing Xia.
“Yima’er!” “Qing Xia!”
Two alarmed cries rang out simultaneously. Chu Li and Qin Zhiyan coincidentally shouted together, two vigorous figures rapidly throwing themselves toward Qing Xia. But how could they be faster than Qi An, who was already close to Qing Xia?