“Ling Long, I’ll be honest with you—the item he entrusted to you is nothing short of a curse. Holding onto it will only bring disaster upon yourself. Don’t make another mistake by opposing the Xiang Yang Prince. Hand the item over to me and stay out of this matter with the Xiang Yang estate.”
Huo Ling Long sneered and said, “If not for Zhan Zhao fighting against Xingyun Manor and Han Shui Palace one after another on this journey, what abilities do you have, apart from your dirty tricks, to capture him at the West Bridge crossing? Why should I trust your words? As powerful as your master may be, is it not the common people who suffer from his actions? Why should I submit to him?”
Shao Ji Zu gritted his teeth and replied, “Is it the Xiang Yang Prince’s deeds that he told you about? Would you rather believe someone you’ve known for less than three days than believe me? Do you trust his words so much that you’re willing to oppose the Prince, without fear of regret?”
Huo Ling Long lifted her head proudly. “Two or three days are more than enough. Why should I regret it?”
She looked at him, her gaze carrying a hint of disdain. “I trust him and not you because you, yourself, could never measure up to him!”
Shao Ji Zu felt his anger surge. Huo Ling Long’s words were like a cold blade, striking at his pride, his dignity, and his ambition.
He couldn’t understand—he couldn’t believe it! His expression hardened, and he said arrogantly, “I, Shao Ji Zu, stand tall and proud, with accomplishments in both literature and martial arts. In what way am I inferior to him? As for status, he’s nothing more than a fourth-ranked imperial guard serving in the Emperor’s court, while I am the Chief Commander of the Xiang Yang Prince’s forces. Why would you trust his words over mine?”
Huo Ling Long no longer looked at him. His words passed her ears like the whisper of the wind. After a long pause, she said softly, “You’re wrong. He is who he is. I trust his words not because of his skills or rank. He surpasses you in his openness, his integrity, and his chivalrous heart that takes the world’s burdens as his own. You may be a valiant hero and a man of deep affection, but you will never measure up to him.”
A flicker of flames seemed to rise in Shao Ji Zu’s eyes, but he smirked coldly. “You used to sing Xiao Zhao’s praises, and I didn’t mind—it was because of his noble status and the way your temperaments matched. But now, you’re actually talking about Zhan Zhao—”
Huo Ling Long’s voice turned wistful. “Even Xiao Zhao cannot compare to him.”
* * *
Shao Ji Zu suddenly burst into wild laughter. There was a note of sorrow and desolation in his laugh, suffocating in its intensity.
– “So, you’re going to the capital not for Xiao Zhao, but for him!”
His face twisted, as if he couldn’t believe what was happening before his eyes.
– “So it’s him! The one you love isn’t Xiao Zhao of Nan Qing Palace anymore—it’s him!”
Huo Ling Long froze, her heart pierced by the thought of him, as if cut by a blade.
Shao Ji Zu’s laughter grew louder and more frantic. He laughed at himself now.
“What a joke! Tang Tianhao and I, still dreaming in broad daylight, foolishly thought we could win you back!”
His laughter turned bitter, and at some point, tears began to fall.
But were those tears born of heartbreak or shattered dreams? Were they the blood of his heart spilling out or the marks of awakening from a dream?
– “Yes, you’ve finally changed your heart. You’ve finally stopped loving Xiao Zhao of Nan Qing Palace. But the one who made you change wasn’t us—it was him! The one you love is still not us!”
His voice, by the end, had become so hoarse that it was barely audible. Could this be the sound of a broken heart?
Shao Ji Zu’s words struck Huo Ling Long like a bolt of lightning, leaving her mind reeling. Under the crimson sunset, her heart suddenly felt as transparent as blood-red crystal. The wind of the open plains pierced through that trembling, vivid heart, plucking the strings of a long-delayed realization.
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