Chapter 72: Traveling Together
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In the pit, the young man leaned against the stone wall, covered in a bloody mess, half of his body tucked under the wolf carcass. He was battered and bruised, a sorry sight indeed, yet amid all the chaos, he found the time to contemplate matters of love and beauty.
He gazed at his own clear and bright eyes, filled with astonishment, but devoid of any trace of joy.
Without thinking, He Yan blurted out, “Xiao… Commander, how did you get here?”
At this hour, she thought no one would come. Upon reflection, she realized that the likelihood of Zheng Xuan seeking help for her was minimal. As for Shen Hong, with his timid nature, a little threat was likely enough to silence him from further disclosure. Given the circumstances, she could only rely on herself. She had initially planned to stay in the pit until daybreak, allowing the blood on her body to dry and regaining some strength before attempting to climb out. She hadn’t expected someone to actually come to her rescue, let alone that person being Xiao Jue.
Xiao Jue didn’t answer her question, only asking, “Can you climb up on your own?”
He Yan replied, “I can’t.”
The pit was crudely constructed and too deep; her injured legs couldn’t provide the necessary strength to climb.
Xiao Jue glanced at her, turned, and walked away. He left her perplexed. What was he doing? Just walking away like that?
But after a moment, he returned, holding something long in his hand. As He Yan focused her gaze, she realized it was the broken bamboo pole she had used. Though it was split into two pieces, it extended from above, allowing her to grasp it.
Xiao Jue knelt by the edge of the pit, extended the bamboo pole, and said, “Hold on.”
For a moment, He Yan hesitated, but she reluctantly grabbed it. She considered that maybe she couldn’t expect Xiao Jue to fly down and carry her out. The thought alone gave her chills.
Observing the exquisite figure above her, she noticed his tremendous strength as he retracted the pole with her gripping it. As they neared the exit, he extended a hand for her to grab, indicating that she should hold on to him.
Her hand, with distinct and slender knuckles, was about to extend when it froze in mid-air. Having just struggled with the wild wolves, her hand was stained with blood, unsure if it was wolf’s blood or human blood, leaving her palm sticky and stained. Comparing her blood-streaked hand to Xiao Jue’s pristine and fair hand, it was rather unsightly.
Xiao Jue was known for his cleanliness and tidiness, which made He Yan hesitate. However, the man seemed impatient, not waiting for her to decide on her course of action. He reached forward and grasped her wrist, pulling her up abruptly.
Outside, the suffocating stench of blood that had filled the pit was now gone, and the expansive sky seemed to have grown larger. The starry expanse overhead seemed poised to descend, as countless sparkling stars merged together, illuminating the heavens and the earth.
He Yan turned to look at Xiao Jue.
The young man stood up, discarded the bamboo pole, and fixed his gaze on her. After a moment, he spoke, “Did you kill a wolf?”
This was an odd question, and He Yan didn’t quite understand. Nonetheless, she smiled and replied, “Yes, I nearly died. I didn’t have any weapons, so I used a stone to kill it. I was also bitten twice.”
Blood had seeped through the young man’s sleeve, staining his once-red attire a deep color. She, on the other hand, seemed unperturbed, even casually asking, “Commander, why did you come personally? Where are the others?”
“It’s too late; I came up alone.” He gestured, and it was only then that He Yan noticed a horse not far away. That horse wasn’t tethered either, and upon seeing Xiao Jue’s actions, it obediently trotted over to his side. By the moonlight, He Yan caught sight of the green-tinged ears on the horse, and a thought crossed her mind. It was widely known that General Fengyun had a beloved steed, one that could cover a thousand miles in a day, swift as the wind and lightning, known as Green Ear. Never had she thought she’d encounter it today, here.
“So, do we… go back now?” He Yan asked hesitantly.
Xiao Jue regarded her with a puzzled expression, “You want to stay here overnight?”
“No, not that,” He Yan explained, “I mean, there’s no one else here, just one horse…” Did Xiao Jue intend for her to walk and follow him all the way? That would be utterly miserable, wouldn’t it? Beyond miserable!
He patted Green Ear’s head, and the spirited steed lowered its head obediently. Xiao Jue glanced at her and said, “Get on.”
“Huh… me?” He Yan exclaimed in astonishment.
She was absolutely shocked. Did she hear correctly? Xiao Jue was actually willing to let her ride this renowned and exceptional steed?
Xiao Jue’s lips quirked slightly, “If you want to walk back, it’s also an option.”
“No, no, no, I can!” He Yan responded enthusiastically, “I’m just so happy!”
Today was such a wonderful day. She was actually riding the legendary Green Ear. He Yan felt like bursting into laughter. Limping, she approached the horse. The magnificent creature was impressively tall, and the usual action of gracefully mounting a horse would’ve been majestic, but her body was covered in injuries. She reached out a hand to grab the saddle and awkwardly attempted to climb aboard.
He Yan’s leg was injured, her arm had just been bitten by a wolf, and when she exerted force, the freshly dried blood immediately seeped out again. Within moments, half of her sleeve was dampened. Yet, she maintained her composure, her face pale, and a smile hanging on her lips. Large drops of sweat rolled down her forehead, wetting her hair.
This man seemed completely oblivious to his own disheveled state. Xiao Jue raised an eyebrow ever so slightly.
As He Yan continued to climb upward using both hands and feet, a voice suddenly came from above, asking, “Aren’t you in pain?”
She was taken aback, and the next instant, someone embraced her waist, lifting her up. Before she could even exclaim in surprise, she found herself seated on the horse’s back. Another person sat behind her, and a faint aroma of moonlit orchids wafted through the air, disturbing her thoughts.
“Sit properly,” Xiao Jue instructed.
At this moment, He Yan’s feelings were beyond words.
She truly hadn’t expected Xiao Jue to lift her onto the horse… or had he carried her? She hadn’t quite processed it; it all happened too quickly. Yet, he was indeed seated behind her now. He Yan was of petite stature, and her head rested perfectly against his chest, almost as if… almost as if she was nestled in his embrace.
The thought startled her, and her subconscious reaction wasn’t embarrassment, but rather a sense of astonishment. Xiao Jue was not one for romance, let alone the fact that she was currently disguised as a young man. Given all that had happened today, could it be that she was dreaming?
Xiao Jue urged the horse to start moving, and He Yan hurriedly called out, “Wait, wait a moment!”
He asked, “What now?”
“Look at that wolf,” He Yan pointed to the wolf carcass in the pit, “I worked so hard to kill it, and now it’s just lying here wasted. It’s a shame.”
His response was cold, “What do you want to do?”
“Can we take it with us?” He Yan tentatively asked.
After a pause, the young man sneered, “Fine.”
“Really?” He Yan turned back in delight, “Commander, you truly are a great person!” She hadn’t expected much.
He curved his lips slightly, his gaze indifferent, “If it comes up, you go down.”
He Yan: “…”
She replied, “Pretend I didn’t say anything.”
The horse took a couple of steps, and she turned back, nearly colliding into Xiao Jue’s arms. “How about I go back down, skin the wolf, and then come back up? Autumn is approaching, and the weather will be cold. A pair of wolfskin boots would be nice.”
His response was mercilessly concise.
“Shut up.”
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