Riding wildly—for you,The sky filled with flying sand—for you,The bugles sounded for retreat—for you,The tides of emotion surged—still, all for you!If I find you, I truly wonder,What will you offer in exchange?
Guarding Fentian was Cheng Xiang. The night before, Wolf Head’s informants had reported that the leader would soon arrive, so Cheng Xiang was now waiting in an eastern border town near Fentian. From afar, he saw the dust clouds rising, and the banners of the Berserk Army cutting through the sky. Wolf Head, seeing this, shouted excitedly, “They’re back! Open the gates quickly!”
With a creak, the city gates opened, and a cloud of dust swept inside. The Fentian soldiers, who had been on the move for days, poured in like a black dragon returning to its lair. For a while, all that could be heard was the constant clatter of hooves and the soldiers’ deafening shouts.
After some time, the exhausted troops finally dismounted, shedding their armor and scrambling for food. They were starving and parched. Days of relentless marching had left them drained. Although no one was chasing them, Ruo Wen’s orders had been like a death sentence—anyone who stopped, even for a moment, would be cut down by the nearest soldier without Ruo Wen needing to lift a finger.
Among the chaos of soldiers collapsing to the ground, Ruo Wen’s black horse galloped straight into the inner courtyard without pause. He didn’t acknowledge Cheng Xiang’s report or stop for a moment. Carrying the barely conscious Huang Bei Shuang, he kicked open a door and threw her onto a bed. Turning to the loyal Cheng Xiang, who had followed him in, he barked, “Bring water!” Cheng Xiang quickly nodded and left to make arrangements.
Ruo Wen sat on the edge of the bed, looking at the pale woman. It was clear the long journey had drained her energy, and this time, she probably couldn’t even pretend to be unconscious anymore.
“Leader! The water is here!” It was Mang Hu who brought the water, his knack for reading Ruo Wen’s intentions evident. Instead of a simple basin, Mang Hu had brought in a large tub filled with warm, clean water—enough for two people.
Ruo Wen smiled at this, waving his hand dismissively. “Go ask Cheng Xiang for a reward and get out. No one comes in without my orders.”
Mang Hu grinned mischievously, slipped out, and closed the door behind him with a quick motion.
Ruo Wen turned back, scooping up Huang Bei Shuang in his arms and tossing her straight into the water!
“Cough, cough!” Huang Bei Shuang was jolted awake, gasping for breath. Realizing she was in the water, she paid no attention to her surroundings. Desperately thirsty, she scooped water into her hands and drank it wildly. Her movements were feral as she even tore off the clothes clinging to her body, exposing her equally parched skin, playing in the water like a fish.
Ruo Wen watched her for a long moment before picking up a piece of pastry from the table and chewing it thoughtfully. After finishing, he wiped his mouth, unbuckled his weapons, and stripped off his clothes before stepping into the tub with her. His massive frame caused the water to spill over the edges, and the sudden movement snapped Huang Bei Shuang back to reality. She stared at him, wide-eyed.
Ruo Wen chuckled. “What? Not playing anymore?”
His hand reached out, caressing her face, tracing the curve of her eyebrows, her cold, grey eyes, the line of her nose, and finally…her lips—those red, sweet lips that always seemed to call to him.
The kiss came next. It was only the beginning, but Ruo Wen’s kisses were always painful, possessive. No matter how she struggled, he held her tightly, biting down, trapping her. He made her afraid, her heart pounding like thunder. It wasn’t love, but it was something no one else could ever achieve—a capture that was raw, real, and utterly irresistible.
“Aren’t you afraid of me? If you don’t behave, I might lose control!” Ruo Wen finally pulled back, allowing her to breathe, though the water between their chests was slowly turning red from her reopened wound. It was deep, and serious, but she couldn’t feel it anymore. Her mind was blank, unable to think of what to do.
Ruo Wen glanced at her injury and frowned. A moment later, he lifted her from the water, doing nothing but drying her off and rebandaging the wound. He let her rest on the bed, sitting beside her for a long while, staring at her. “Where should I begin?” he muttered to himself, his words tinged with confusion.
“Where should you begin?” Huang Bei Shuang’s icy gaze returned as she regained her composure. “Start right here!” she tapped her wound, the sharp pain bringing her clarity.
Ruo Wen, still bare-chested, sat at the bedside. In this cold weather, even a moment exposed like this could make a person shiver, but he seemed unaffected. His breathing was heavy, his eyes deep, and then he let out a soft laugh. “Don’t tell me you think you can use the same tricks you used on Mang Hu against me?”
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