In the pit, the youth leaned against the stone wall, covered in the scent of blood, half of his body tucked under the wolf’s corpse. Despite being battered and in a miserable state, he somehow maintained a romantic disposition.

Looking into her eyes, they were clear and filled with surprise, but without a trace of joy.

He Yan blurted out, “Xiao… Commander, why are you here?”

At this hour, she thought no one would come. Thinking carefully later, the chances of Zheng Xuan sending someone to rescue her were minimal. Shen Hong, being timid, would likely stay quiet under the slightest threat. With no one else to rely on, she could only depend on herself. He Yan had planned to stay until dawn, wait for the blood to dry, gather strength, and then find a way to climb out of the pit. She hadn’t expected anyone to come to rescue her, let alone that person Xiao Jue.

Xiao Jue didn’t answer her question, only asking, “Can you climb up by yourself?”

He Yan: “No.”

The pit was crudely made but too deep, and her legs had no strength to climb.

Xiao Jue glanced at her and turned away. He Yan was confused – what did this mean? Was he just leaving?

Moments later, he returned holding something long. He Yan looked carefully – it was the bamboo pole she had broken earlier. Though split in two, it was just long enough to reach down for He Yan to grab.

Xiao Jue knelt by the pit, extending the bamboo pole down, saying, “Grab hold.”

He Yan remained silent for a moment before resignedly gripping it, thinking to herself – what else could she expect? Did she think Xiao Jue would leap down and carry her out? Even she felt chilled at that thought.

Though he appeared as delicate as fine jade, his strength was immense. He Yan held the bamboo pole as he pulled up with one hand, managing to lift her. When she was near the top, he reached out his hand, gesturing for He Yan to grab it.

That hand was well-defined, long, and beautiful. He Yan was about to reach for it but froze midway. Her hands were covered in blood from fighting the wolf, sticky with either wolf’s blood or human blood. These blood-stained hands would look awful next to Xiao Jue’s jade-white ones.

Xiao Jue was known for his cleanliness, and He Yan hesitated. He seemed to grow impatient with waiting. Before she could decide what to do, he reached forward, gripped her wrist, and pulled her up in one motion.

Outside, the suffocating blood smell from the pit was gone, and the sky suddenly seemed vast. Stars blanketed the heavens as if about to fall, their countless brilliant lights seeming to illuminate the earth and sky.

She turned to look at Xiao Jue again.

The young man stood up, tossed aside the bamboo pole, and fixed his gaze on her before asking, “You killed a wolf?”

What kind of question was that? He Yan didn’t understand but still smiled, “Yes, almost died too. Had no weapons, killed it with rocks, and got bitten twice.”

Blood seeped through the youth’s sleeves, staining the already red combat garment darker, yet her expression remained normal as she casually asked, “Why did Commander come personally? Where are the others?”

“It’s too late, I came up alone.” He tapped his fingers, and He Yan noticed a horse not far away. The horse wasn’t even tied, and upon seeing Xiao Jue’s gesture, it obediently trotted to his side. In the moonlight, He Yan saw its green-tinted ears and her heart stirred. Everyone knew General Feng Yun had a favorite mount that could travel a thousand li in a day, swift as wind and lightning, named Green Ears. She hadn’t expected to see it here today.

“So now… do we head back?” He Yan asked hesitantly.

Xiao Jue looked at her incredulously: “You want to spend the night here?”

“No, no,” He Yan explained, “I mean, there’s no one else here, just one horse…” Was Xiao Jue expecting her to walk and follow along? That would be too cruel! Inhumane!

He patted Green Ears’ head, and the stallion lowered its head docilely. Xiao Jue glanced at her, “Get on.”

“Eh… me?” He Yan was shocked.

This legendary horse – Xiao Jue was willing to let her ride it? Had she heard correctly?

Xiao Jue tugged at the corner of his mouth: “If you prefer to walk back, that’s fine too.”

“No, no, no, I can do it!” He Yan replied, “I’m just too happy!”

What auspicious day was this that she could ride the legendary Green Ears? He Yan just wanted to laugh out loud. She limped to Green Ears’ side. The horse was extremely tall and majestic. The action of mounting should have been graceful, but unfortunately, she was now covered in wounds and couldn’t manage any grace. She could only grab the saddle with one hand and try to climb up.

He Yan’s leg was injured, and her arm had just been bitten by the wolf. As she exerted force, the recently dried blood began seeping again, quickly soaking half her sleeve. Yet her expression remained normal, and though her face had turned pale, she still wore a smile. Large drops of sweat rolled down her forehead, making her hair wet and matted.

This person didn’t even realize how disheveled she was. Xiao Jue slightly raised his eyebrows.

While He Yan was still struggling to climb up, suddenly a voice came from above. He said, “Doesn’t it hurt?”

He Yan froze. The next moment, someone grabbed her waist and pulled her up. Before she could cry out, she was already sitting on the horse’s back, with someone behind her. A faint scent of moon-scale fragrance wafted over, making her thoughts chaotic.

“Sit properly,” Xiao Jue said.

He Yan found it difficult to describe her feelings at this moment.

She truly hadn’t expected Xiao Jue would lift her onto the horse… it was lifting, right? Everything happened too quickly for her to be sure. But now he was definitely sitting behind her. He Yan’s small frame meant her head just reached his chest, making it seem like… like she was nestled in his embrace.

She was startled by this thought, and her instinctive reaction wasn’t embarrassment but alarm. Xiao Jue wasn’t a romantic person, and she was currently presenting as a man. Were today’s events perhaps just a dream?

As Xiao Jue urged the horse to move, He Yan said, “Wait, wait!”

He asked, “What now?”

“Look at that wolf,” He Yan pointed at the wolf’s corpse in the pit, “I worked so hard to kill it, it’s too wasteful to just leave it here.”

He replied coldly, “What do you want to do?”

“Could we take it with us?” He Yan asked tentatively.

After a while, the young man sneered: “We can.”

“Really?” He Yan turned back excitedly, “Commander, you’re truly a wonderful person!” She hadn’t expected him to agree.

He curved his lips, his eyes indifferent: “It comes up, you go down.”

He Yan: “…”

She said, “Forget I mentioned it.”

The horse took a few steps, and she turned back again, nearly bumping into Xiao Jue’s chest, “How about I go down and skin the wolf before we leave? Autumn’s coming, and the weather will be cold, wouldn’t wolf-skin boots be nice?”

The response she got was two merciless words.

“Be quiet.”