“Your name is…” he asked.
“Huang Beixhuang!” she replied.
“Manhu, go find that old witch’s corpse and throw it over there. Also, release those useless people from the granary. Chengxiang, gather all our brothers and prepare to evacuate this place. Whether they blow it up or not, we can’t stay here any longer.” Ruowen’s instructions were calm. His brothers carefully observed his expression, fearing that one wrong move might make them the next sacrifice.
In all their years following the leader, this was the first time they had been threatened like this, almost completely at a disadvantage. The idea that a mere few hundred people could subdue their two thousand fierce bandits was laughable, yet now, a single woman had easily accomplished it. They couldn’t help but be surprised. At that moment, no one dared to look at Ruowen’s face, but they all heard the harsh clanging of the sword at his waist.
Everything was yet to unfold!
Dongbahe’s people came out carrying bags of various sizes. It was almost comical to see – they had originally fought desperately just for a meal to survive, but now, seizing the opportunity, they were carrying out as much as they could like hungry wolves. The last one to emerge was carrying Duore’s corpse.
“Dongbahe! Are you ready? As soon as our people come, retreat quickly to the east. Don’t stop for a moment. Ruowen’s position is to the west, and once Qingyun blows up the mound, they’ll only be able to run westward, opposite to us. Even if he wants to turn back and chase us, it won’t be easy,” Huang Beixhuang urged Dongbahe to retreat while clutching the fire signal, ready to send it at any moment.
She stared at Ruowen, and she was certain he was staring back at her.
In the instant when a sudden gust of wind dispersed the thick smoke, she lit the fire signal.
Boom! Boom! She turned and ran, and so did he!
The all-consuming collapse came quickly, almost instantaneously. One wrong move and it would mean certain death. On one side were about four hundred people, on the other, a crowd of two thousand. Neither could afford to look back at the other – a single glance could mean being the last in line for death. They could only run for their lives. Huang Beixhuang had to run, and so did Ruowen.
They ran in opposite directions as if this was their predestined fate.
In this world, there are always things you desperately desire yet can never obtain. Those inexplicable feelings often drive you mad, and that frenzy brings nothing but a hellish grudge.
The beauty’s grace, unworthy to enjoy; the hero’s hatred, still lingering in the heart!
Huang — Bei — Xhuang!
**Chapter 3: A Lifelong Vow**
“Miss! Let’s part ways here!” Dongbahe looked at Huang Beixhuang, finally speaking after a long deliberation.
“This job with you nearly scared me to death. Miss, you’re no ordinary person, and I, Dongbahe, don’t have the fortune to stay by your side. Let’s say goodbye here, and I wish you a safe journey!”
On the second day after their escape, Dongbahe and his fellow fugitives parted ways with Huang Beixhuang. This was to be expected – they were never on the same path to begin with. The bandits had stolen what they could and now only wanted to hide from Ruowen. Otherwise, it would surely mean death.
“The same to you. Farewell!” Huang Beixhuang smiled at them, watching as they gradually disappeared into the distance. Only then did she slowly turn back, as if using this silent moment to think about many things.
“Let’s sit down and rest for a while,” she said without looking up, her eyes fixed on the sandy ground as she sat down.
Before her were the remaining ten guards and three maids from Enani’s wedding procession, looking haggard and covered in wounds.
Guessing that she had something to say, Qingyun leaped onto Feita and kept his distance.
“You should go now! Return to Enani, or seek refuge with other nomadic tribes!” Huang Beixhuang said firmly.
“Na Xiu?” The thirteen people suddenly stood up, looking at her in shock.
“You should leave,” Huang Beixhuang repeated.
“I don’t want anyone else to sacrifice for this humiliating marriage. I will go to Yunpei alone. You don’t need to follow me. Who knows what might happen once we reach Yunpei!” As she spoke, she grabbed a handful of sand, let it sift through her fingers, and then gently released it, allowing it to fall softly.
“Protecting my tribespeople was my responsibility, and I failed.”
Hearing this, the group looked at each other, unsure of what to say.
“Na Xiu!” After a long while, someone finally spoke. It was Dao Qiu, the yellow-robed maid from Enani, now dressed in men’s clothing. She moved closer, her expression resolute. “Would Na Xiu be willing to hear Dao Qiu’s heartfelt words?”
Huang Beixhuang looked up at her.
Dao Qiu smiled gently. “On the day we were chosen to accompany Na Xiu on this journey, E Xiu personally presided over a ceremony where we all took an oath. We swore to protect Enani at all costs, to endure any hardship without retreat. We all took that oath, truly. The excitement we felt that day still sustains us to keep moving forward.”
“But when we encountered that dog Ruowen, we truly experienced the pain of perseverance, the fragility of life, and the insignificance of dignity. Many of us fled, but just as many stayed. We remained by your side, honoring the oath we made, determined to see this through to the very end.”
“Na Xiu, when you escaped, we were overjoyed. We all believed that even alone, you would go to Yunpei and fulfill the alliance marriage. However, our joy for Enani could never compare to the moment you came back to save us at the risk of your own life. That feeling of gratitude is beyond words. It was then that I realized, facing death, you can say you’re not afraid, but facing salvation, you can never say you don’t want it.” By this point, Dao Qiu was silently weeping, and the others gathered around her, patting her shoulders in understanding.
Huang Beixhuang listened wordlessly, her eyes brimming with tears.
“Na Xiu, let us follow you! From now on, we’ll obey only your orders. Whether we live or die is for you to decide!” a guard shouted. His voice was firm, encouraging others to express their feelings.
“Na Xiu, Lian Huan is right. From now on, you are our master. We’re not going anywhere; we’ll follow you. Don’t send us away!”
“Yes! Me too!”
“And me!”