Rebirth of a Star General Chapter 216

Chapter 216: Came Because Of You

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The moonlight illuminated the snowy ground, casting shifting shadows as the two stood facing each other.

No need for concealment now.

He Yan’s gaze fell on the Drinking Autumn sword in her hand. At this moment, she realized that the long sword was unexpectedly heavy. So heavy that she felt she could barely hold it.

“When did you find out?” she asked softly.

“The wet nurse of He Wanru, I found her,” Xiao Jue replied.

He Yan looked up at him abruptly.

His expression remained as calm as ever, as if what he was saying was a trivial matter. A myriad of complex emotions surged within her—bitterness, panic, nervousness—finally turning into a relieved sigh.

“Sorry,” He Yan tried to appear nonchalant. “I didn’t intend to deceive you.”

But why did she lie? Even she couldn’t come up with a reason that would be acceptable.

Xiao Jue bent down to pick up the broken sword on the ground. The long sword in his hand had been cut into two by He Yan’s Drinking Autumn.

He Yan silently watched his movements. When he straightened up, she asked, “Do you know everything now?”

“More or less,” Xiao Jue’s gaze was calm. “You are the deceased wife of Xu Zhiheng, and also the masked He Rufei.”

The words “deceased wife” struck He Yan like a blow. It was as if the most unwilling-to-be-discovered secret had been exposed, revealing a hint of embarrassment. She, who had always faced thousands of troops on the battlefield without fear, now, at this moment, felt a sense of retreat when facing this person.

But she couldn’t escape. If it was discovered, she had to face it. Whether it was the past full of conspiracies and calculations or the future that seemed uncertain.

“That’s right,” He Yan said, “I am He Yan and also He Rufei, your fellow classmate.”

Xiao Jue’s eyes flickered slightly. After a moment, he asked, “How did you become the daughter of the City Gate military official?”

“If you’ve already found Qin Momo, you should know how I died,” He Yan smiled bitterly, looking towards the nearby icicles hanging from the trees. The icicles resembled teardrops falling, clustered at the tips of the branches. “After I died and woke up again, I became the ‘He Yan’ you see now.”

“Perhaps fate took pity on me and gave me another chance,” He Yan shrugged. “The circumstances are so unbelievable that even if I explain, no one would believe it. Some might even think I’m talking nonsense. However, since you’ve found me, I assume you already believe this.”

“Why did you exchange identities with He Rufei?”

He Yan paused for a moment. The usually bright light in her eyes seemed to be veiled with a layer of mist, showing a hint of confusion.

“Xiao Jue, no one can decide their destiny at birth. I’m no exception. As far back as I can remember, I was already ‘He Rufei.'” She slowly began to speak, “I only knew that my elder brother wouldn’t live much longer. If I didn’t become ‘He Rufei,’ the title and privileges of the He family would be revoked. So, I had to live my life as ‘He Rufei’ to preserve the family’s status.”

“However, at that time, I was too young and rebellious to succumb to such a fate. So, I left the He family and joined the Fuyue Army, earned military merits, and received rewards. I never expected that my elder brother, who was supposed to have a short life, didn’t die. In fact, he was safe and healthy. When I returned to the capital, everything fell back into place. He resumed being He Rufei, and I became He Yan again. It’s fine this way.”

There was nothing wrong with this arrangement. Although she felt a bit wronged at the time, it was the best outcome she could think of. Whether it was He Rufei or He Yan, both could live peacefully.

He Yan tilted her head slightly, as if trying to force back a glint of tears. She smiled and said, “He Rufei is the famous Flying Phoenix General, while Miss He is just a frail girl with health issues. When I reached a certain age, I could use He Rufei’s reputation to secure a good marriage for myself. The matter could have ended there.”

“But perhaps they feared I might reveal something, jeopardizing the entire He family, so they no longer trusted me. Therefore, after this, they came for my life,” He Yan chuckled self-mockingly. “This should be heaven’s punishment for me.”

Those who resist fate are ultimately erased by fate. If she had obediently stayed in the He family as “He Rufei” back then, not going to the battlefield, not seeking military merits, not becoming Flying Phoenix General, perhaps when the time came, both she and He Rufei would have returned to their original positions, and she wouldn’t have lost her life.

However…

If someone were to ask, if time could be reversed, and she had a chance to choose again, would she leave the He family? He Yan thought she probably would. It was precisely because she embarked on a path entirely different from her predestined fate that she discovered the vastness and diversity of the world, the charm of life, which was drastically different from what was hidden within the four walls.

“Your eyes…”

“He Family blinded me,” He Yan interrupted him. “But they probably didn’t expect that later on, I could live well without my eyes. It’s all thanks to you,” she smiled slightly. “The words you said to me that day behind Yuhua Temple, I remembered them. Even if I become blind, I want to be the most different one among the blind.”

Xiao Jue’s breath became slightly heavier.

The words he said were also a kind of harm to He Yan. If He Yan had chosen to be just a blind person, after no longer posing a threat to the He family, she might have been able to preserve her life. It was precisely because of her refusal to accept her fate that she once again disturbed the He family’s peace, leading to the loss of her life.

“Xiao Jue, don’t blame yourself,” He Yan seemed to perceive what he was thinking. “I don’t regret my choice back then. If I hadn’t met you, I wouldn’t have had the courage to continue living. On the Mid-Autumn Night at Yuhua Temple, in this world, there probably wouldn’t be a ‘He Yan’ anymore.”

Fate was cruel, but it was also mysterious. Every seemingly casual choice led to unpredictable outcomes. Now she had become He Sui’s daughter, no longer a blind person. Old acquaintances appeared one by one before her eyes, and whether it was more regrettable or fortunate, she couldn’t say.

“I am He Yan, and I am also He Rufei,” she smiled slightly. “When I woke up back then, I accidentally entered the new barracks of the Liangzhou Garrison. When I told you I wanted to achieve military merits, it wasn’t a lie, because only by standing at the same height as He Rufei could I expose his lies. My life alone doesn’t matter, but because of me, He Rufei killed many innocent people, which is unforgivable. What he owes me, I’ll take back myself.”

“Now that I’ve become Marquis Wuan, I have more power to resist him than before. What I have to do next is these things. I’m sorry, Xiao Jue, I didn’t intentionally deceive you. It’s just that some things, when said, sound absurd. Perhaps it’s my own timidity, not knowing how to face you.”

“You’ve been lying to me all along,” he said.

He Yan’s fingers curled slightly, and she took a deep breath. “I’m sorry.”

“Is it also a lie that you like me?” he asked.

He Yan suddenly looked up. He stood in the wind, his figure tall and straight, seemingly unique, yet also like he had returned to the beginning, a distance that could never be bridged.

“No,” she said.

Xiao Jue looked at her impassively.

“I didn’t lie to you,” He Yan paused, swallowed the bitterness in her throat, and continued, “When I was acting as He Rufei at Xianchang Academy, you took care of me in many ways, applied medicine for me, and guided me in swordsmanship. Even during the time I lived as He Yan, you’ve always protected me.”

“You always appeared when I was in danger, Xiao Jue. I liked you before, and now, I like you even more.”

Once certain words were spoken, it seemed like all concerns disappeared. He Yan knew very well that Xiao Jue disliked betrayal and deception, related to the incident with the Xiao family back then. So, when he discovered her cross-dressing and deceiving people in Liangzhou Garrison, he reacted so sensitively. Now, with an even greater secret exposed, for Xiao Jue, from the moment they met, it was a complete lie.

She had no authority to ask for Xiao Jue’s forgiveness.

“I am not the real Miss He,” she took a deep breath and forced a relaxed smile, “Dragging you into this was never my intention. Originally, I just wanted to achieve military merits in Liangzhou Garrison, be your reliable subordinate, but between you and me, it ended up like this. The emperor decreed our marriage, and I couldn’t resist the imperial edict, but… but…” she looked at Xiao Jue, “You don’t have to take this marriage to heart. Just consider us as partners. If you find a girl you like in the future, I will tell her that our relationship is just a show. When the time comes, whether you want to annul the engagement or divorce me, it doesn’t matter.”

Xiao Jue’s eyes turned cold, and he asked slowly, “Divorce you?”

He Yan pretended to sigh nonchalantly. “Actually, getting married doesn’t mean much. Really. Don’t think it’s as beneficial as Yan Nanguang seems to believe. I myself have been married. If I have to compare, I was happier before the marriage. Maybe I am more suited to being alone. Both of my marriages have been disappointing,” she joked, “When you divorce me, I’ll settle all the debts of gratitude and resentment. When the time comes, I’ll travel the world alone, better than living an ordinary woman’s life in this residence. It’s not bad. It’s just a pity for you,” she seemed genuinely concerned for Xiao Jue, “You were doing fine, but you got entangled in this marriage for no reason.”

Xiao Jue coldly said, “He Yan.”

“Don’t put on such an angry look,” He Yan laughed, “I should be the one who’s sad. It’s not easy to deceive a marriage, and now it’s exposed. Fortunately, I’m someone with an exceptionally broad mind. I can always look at things positively. After today, let’s just consider ourselves as ordinary classmates. Xiao Jue,” she spoke earnestly, each word pronounced distinctly, “Thank you, whether it’s in the past or now.”

Her smile was easygoing, appearing carefree, like an indifferent young lad in Liangzhou Garrison. However, only He Yan knew that as she spoke these words, each one felt like a knife cutting into her heart.

She liked someone so much, experienced many things with that person, and Xiao Jue gave her warmth and cherish like never before. She thought she had grasped the moon, but in reality, she only held the reflection of the moon on the water’s surface. Now that the dream has ended, she should return to her own path.

In matters of the heart, one must avoid developing attachments. If there were no such attachment, perhaps parting ways now wouldn’t be so difficult.

He Yan raised a big smile, thought for a moment, and reached out to Xiao Jue, “Here, this is your Drinking Autumn. It’s returned to its rightful owner now.”

The young man didn’t move; his beautiful eyes fixed on her, filled with emotions that He Yan couldn’t comprehend. In the next moment, he took a big step forward, and He Yan extended the Drinking Autumn towards him.

He didn’t take the sword.

Instead, his hand grabbed He Yan’s arm, gently pulling her into his embrace.

He Yan was startled, finding warmth beneath the seemingly cold black robe. Like the bravest general with the softest heart.

“Xiao Jue, you…”

He Yan leaned against his chest, hearing his clear and powerful heartbeat, more intense than any time before, as if it hinted at the young man’s unknown feelings. She raised her head, looking at Xiao Jue’s chin. He supported He Yan’s waist with one hand, pressing her head against his chest, as if comforting and at the same time imprisoning her, afraid that she would escape.

“I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

The young man’s voice was restrained, husky, and low. “For not recognizing you immediately.”

In an instant, He Yan’s eyes moistened.

For a long time, it felt like she had been walking alone in the dark night, unnoticed and uncared for. No one discovered her existence, and no one cared about her joys and sorrows. There were no apologies, no cheers, and the beginning or end, joy or sorrow, were all part of her solitary story.

Until one day, someone discovered her.

This person in the world, the only one, was her light, the source of all her brilliance.

“Hey,” she wanted to lighten the atmosphere, “Xiao Huaijin, if you continue like this, I won’t be able to bear it.”

But he hugged He Yan even tighter and whispered in her ear, “I missed you twice.”

“This time, I won’t miss it again.”

He Yan was astonished.

She broke free from Xiao Jue’s embrace, looking at him in surprise. “I’m not Miss He, I’m He Yan.”

“I know.”

“I lied to you, from the previous life until now.”

“I know.”

“I’ve been married before.” She seemed hesitant to speak, “Xiao Jue, even so, are you still the same as before?”

She didn’t think being married made someone inferior. There were so many divorced women in the world, and being abandoned didn’t make them any less than others. It was just a matter of bad luck or circumstances, choosing a wrong marriage. It didn’t prevent them from having the right to happiness.

But unexpectedly, when faced with someone she truly liked, even a fairy would secretly worry about whether she matched the other person. Joy made people timid, and timidity made people humble, especially when… the love she received was too little, and affirmation was rare.

Under the night sky, the young man’s gaze was as deep as autumn water, shedding all the coldness and sarcasm, incredibly warm.

Xiao Jue smiled slightly, “Why so lacking in confidence? Even if you’ve been married, in my eyes, you’re just a girl.”

He bent down slightly, gazing into her eyes.

“As for Flying Phoenix General, it doesn’t matter. I only came for He Yan.”

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