Zhan was momentarily stunned, then pulled her into a tighter embrace. Beneath the desolate tethering tree, they both seemed so alone and helpless.
Some people have many lovers in their lifetime,But none of them are the one they truly love.While others fall for just one person,And never find themselves moved by another encounter.The most helpless part is that such a choice…Can only happen once in a lifetime!
* * *
To the north of the snowy plains, the massive flag of Tiandu fluttered fiercely in the wind. King Jing of Heaven, dressed in black armor, had already gathered his troops, ready for battle.
This would be his first direct confrontation with King Zhan, and his heart surged with excitement. He had long wanted to know who, between the two of them, would emerge as the true conqueror. General Ji Hua was especially eager, burning with the desire to erase the shame of past defeats. Ji Hua and Liao Zhen each commanded seventy thousand soldiers, stationed to the left and right of their king.
Before long, the sand dunes in the distance began to darken, as wave after wave of black-clad figures approached. In the center of the formation rode the Red Cavalry, and at the highest point, King Zhan himself, standing tall and commanding respect as he locked eyes with King Qing Yun across a distance of several dozen li.
They stared at each other intently, their gazes cutting through the wind and sand, through the ranks of soldiers and generals. This was a battle between kings, a gamble with dignity, blood, and ideals.
The forces of Yunpei were not to be underestimated. They had the largest population in the desert, the greatest oases, and the most well-planned military strategies. From the moment Zhan had lured Ruo Wen away, he had held an absolute advantage in terms of troops, battlefield, and psychology. He sought nothing less than total victory—he wanted to crush his opponent completely, ensuring that King Jing of Heaven, Huo Qing Yun, would be forced to retreat into isolation for decades, never again to cause him trouble.
“Your Majesty, their numbers are greater than ours. We’ll need to fight a flanking battle,” Miao Jing, standing by Qing Yun’s side, estimated the situation. “The preparations on the snowy plains are ready.”
Qing Yun’s gaze flickered slightly. “No word from Mang Liu yet?” he asked, though his tone was calm.
Miao Jing, ever the keen observer, had noticed His Majesty’s growing unease since hearing of Ruo Wen’s withdrawal. His frequent inquiries had made that clear. Bowing his head, Miao Jing replied, “Not yet, but we should hear something soon.”
“No matter the circumstances, report back to me as soon as there’s news!” Qing Yun commanded, tightening his fist as he saw Yunpei’s vanguard preparing for battle. “Tell Suoza to get ready. We’re going to push their line inward!”
Miao Jing nodded.
* * *
Meanwhile, back in Zhun City, Huang Bei Shuang had indeed repaid her debt to Qing Yun’s fleeting love in full.
Upon entering Zhun City, Fentian’s soldiers, desperate for water, suffered nearly a thousand casualties within three hours. Only the berserk soldiers remained unharmed—if their leader hadn’t drunk the water, they wouldn’t either. Little did they know that the water in the city had long been poisoned.
“Leader!” Mang Hu, still holding Huang Bei Shuang in his arms, reported, “The water is poisoned!”
Ruo Wen’s grip tightened. He looked down at the woman in his arms, her breath now faint. After riding all night, she could not endure even the slightest jostling, and her chest wound seemed to be worsening. “Order the soldiers to gather any clean water left in their flasks and bring it to me!”
Mang Hu lowered his head and replied, “Leader, we’ve already searched everywhere. There’s none left.”
Ruo Wen’s brow furrowed. “How far is it to Fentian?”
“At least three days by fast horse,” Mang Hu replied.
“We’ll rest for two hours, then ride day and night. We must reach Fentian within three days!” Ruo Wen dismounted, still holding Huang Bei Shuang. Her dry, pale lips were pressed against his chest, but no matter how fiercely his heart beat, it couldn’t wake her closed eyes.
Ruo Wen swiftly carried her inside and laid her down on the bed. Mang Hu and the others stood silently nearby.
“Water…” Huang Bei Shuang murmured deliriously in her sleep.
Ruo Wen’s brow furrowed. Without hesitation, he drew his sword halfway from its sheath and swiftly slashed his palm, creating a deep wound. Blood began to flow freely.
He placed his bleeding hand by Huang Bei Shuang’s lips. “Drink!”
The smell of blood seemed to wake her, and she weakly turned her head in disgust. Growing irritated, Ruo Wen used brute force to press his hand to her mouth. Perhaps driven by her extreme thirst, she stopped resisting and began to drink deeply from the blood pooling at her lips.
“Ah…” Ruo Wen winced slightly at the pain. Looking down at her, he brushed the sweat-dampened hair from her forehead and let out a low chuckle. “Does my blood taste good?”
Mang Hu and Lang Tou stood nearby, feeling an unexpected discomfort at the sight. Though they had often witnessed their leader indulging in women publicly, this time he had done nothing inappropriate, yet the scene made them feel strangely embarrassed.
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