Chapter 72: Riding Together
In the pit, the young man leaned against the stone wall, his body reeking of blood, half of it buried beneath the corpse of a wild wolf. Covered in wounds and utterly disheveled, he still somehow found the mood for romantic musings.
His bright eyes stared at her, filled with astonishment but not a trace of joy.
He Yan blurted out, "Xiao... Commander, why are you here?"
At this hour, she had thought no one would come. Upon reflection, the likelihood of Zheng Xuan sending help was minuscule. Shen Hong was so timid that a mere threat would likely silence him. With no one else to rely on, she had resigned herself to self-rescue. He Yan had planned to stay until dawn, waiting for the blood on her body to dry and mustering enough strength to climb out of the pit. Never had she expected someone to come to her aid—let alone Xiao Jue.
Xiao Jue didn’t answer her question. Instead, he asked, "Can you climb up on your own?"
He Yan: "No."
The pit was crudely made but far too deep. Her legs lacked the strength to scale it.
Xiao Jue glanced at her, then turned and walked away. He Yan was baffled. What did that mean? Was he just leaving her there?
But moments later, he returned, holding something long in his hand. He Yan squinted—wasn’t that the bamboo pole she had broken earlier? Though snapped in two, it was just long enough to reach down for her to grasp.
Kneeling by the pit’s edge, Xiao Jue extended the pole downward. "Grab it."
He Yan hesitated briefly before resigning herself to clutching it. She thought wryly, Well, it’s not like I expected Xiao Jue to swoop down and carry me out in his arms. The mere idea made her shudder.
The man looked as refined as polished jade, yet his strength was formidable. With one hand, he effortlessly pulled her up as she clung to the pole. As she neared the top, he reached out his other hand, signaling for her to take hold.
His fingers were slender and elegant, the bones distinct and well-defined. He Yan began to reach for it but froze mid-motion. Her hands were stained with blood from the fight with the wolf—whether it was the beast’s or her own, she couldn’t tell—sticky and repulsive. The sight of her grimy, bloodied hand against Xiao Jue’s pristine, jade-like one was jarring.
Xiao Jue was known for his fastidiousness. He Yan hesitated. But the man seemed impatient. Before she could decide what to do, he leaned forward, seized her wrist, and yanked her up in one swift motion.
Outside, the stifling stench of blood was gone. The sky stretched vast above them, studded with countless stars that glittered like a cascade of brilliance, as if illuminating the entire world.
She turned to look at Xiao Jue.
The young commander stood up, tossing aside the bamboo pole. His gaze lingered on her before he finally spoke. "You killed a wolf?"
What kind of question was that? He Yan didn’t understand, but she smiled anyway. "Yes. Nearly died doing it. Had no weapon, so I bashed its head in with a rock. Got bitten twice for my trouble."
Blood seeped from the boy’s sleeves, darkening the already crimson martial attire. Yet his expression remained unbothered as he asked nonchalantly, "Why did the Commander come personally? Where are the others?""It's too late, I came up alone." He tapped his fingers, and He Yan noticed a horse not far away. The horse wasn't tethered and obediently trotted over to Xiao Jue upon his gesture. Under the moonlight, He Yan saw its ears tinged with green, and her heart skipped a beat. Everyone knew General Feng Yun had a beloved steed, capable of traveling a thousand miles a day, swift as the wind, named Green Ears. She never thought she'd see it here today.
"Then... should we head back now?" He Yan asked hesitantly.
Xiao Jue looked at her incredulously: "Do you want to spend the night here?"
"No, no," He Yan explained. "I mean, there's no one else here, just one horse..." Was Xiao Jue expecting her to walk all the way back? That would be too cruel! Unbearably cruel!
He patted Green Ears' head, and the majestic horse lowered its head meekly. Xiao Jue glanced at her and said, "Get on."
"Me...?" He Yan was stunned.
This legendary steed—Xiao Jue was actually willing to let her ride it? Was she hearing correctly?
Xiao Jue smirked slightly: "If you'd rather walk back, that's fine too."
"No, no, no, I can do it!" He Yan replied. "I'm just too happy!"
What a lucky day this was—she actually got to ride the legendary Green Ears. He Yan wanted to laugh out loud in delight. Limping over to the horse, she found it tall and imposing. Normally, mounting it would have been a dashing move, but with her injuries, any grace was out of the question. She could only grip the saddle with one hand and struggle upward.
Her leg was injured, and her arm had just been bitten by the wolf. The moment she exerted force, the barely dried blood seeped out again, soaking half her sleeve in an instant. Yet her expression remained unchanged, though her face had paled, and she still wore a smile. Large beads of sweat rolled down her temples, dampening her hair.
This person had no idea how wretched she looked. Xiao Jue raised an eyebrow slightly.
He Yan was still clambering up when suddenly, a voice came from above: "Doesn't it hurt?"
He Yan froze. The next moment, someone wrapped an arm around her waist and lifted her up. Before she could even gasp, she was seated on the horse's back, pressed against another person behind her. A faint hint of moonlit fragrance drifted over, unsettling her thoughts.
"Sit properly," Xiao Jue said.
He Yan couldn't describe what she felt in that moment.
She truly hadn't expected Xiao Jue to lift her onto the horse—was it a lift? It had happened too fast for her to process. But now he was indeed sitting behind her. He Yan was petite, her head just reaching his chest, almost as if... as if she were nestled in his embrace.
The thought horrified her. Strangely, her first reaction wasn't embarrassment but shock. Xiao Jue wasn't the sentimental type, and she was still posing as a man. Had today's events all been a dream?
Xiao Jue urged the horse forward, but He Yan cried, "W-wait!"
"What now?" he asked.
"Look at that wolf," He Yan pointed at the carcass in the pit. "I worked so hard to kill it. It'd be a waste to just leave it here."
The man replied coolly, "What do you want to do?"
"Take it with us?" He Yan ventured.
After a pause, the young man scoffed. "Fine.""Really?" He Yan turned around in delight. "Commander, you're such a kind person!" She hadn't held much hope at all.
The corners of his lips curved slightly, his gaze indifferent. "It gets on, you get off."
He Yan: "..."
She said, "Pretend I never spoke."
After the horse took a few steps, she turned again—nearly bumping right into Xiao Jue's chest. "Maybe I should get off and skin the wolf first before we go? Autumn's coming soon, and it'll be cold. A pair of wolfskin boots would be nice, wouldn't it?"
The response she received was two merciless words.
"Shut up."
(End of Chapter)
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