SGSHE114

“Who goes there?!”

The most imposing man among them shouted sharply and struck his horse’s rump with his whip, causing the steed to surge forward.

At his shout, the twenty-five Jin soldiers fanned out into a formation.

A dangerous, elongated line swept toward Jing Heguang and Xing Ming.

With such a formation—and provided their mounts were strong—twenty-five men were more than enough to completely hem the pair in.

Seeing the vigor of the enemy’s horses, Jing Heguang realized escape was impossible, he had no choice but to fight head-on.

Although the original owner possessed excellent martial arts skills, it could not take on dozens of such well-trained enemy soldiers alone.

The enemy operated as a cohesive unit, capable of coordinated tactics.

Once surrounded, with enemies closing in from every direction, defense would become impossible, so how could he hope to win?

After a split-second of thought, Jing Heguang drew his long saber and spurred his horse forward.

The saber was one he had seized earlier.

And it was a Jin-made weapon, at that.

As he drew the blade, Jing Heguang cunningly shouted in a Jin accent:

“Who are you people?!”

His bluster was even more arrogant than theirs, momentarily stunning them into silence.

The pause lasted only an instant, however, because the very next moment, Jing Heguang began slicing through them like cutting melons.

The saber’s edge was merely average, but it was no match for Jing Heguang’s superhuman strength.

With the ease of slicing melons, he took down three men in the very first clash.

Realizing the situation had turned dire, the burly leader shouted a warning to his men: “Form a circle! Attack the other one!”

A circle formation would prevent Jing Heguang from escaping while allowing for multi-directional attacks. As for targeting Xing Ming, the leader reasoned that if both were equally formidable, they wouldn’t have left the fighting entirely to Jing Heguang.

Not to mention that Jing Heguang had just employed a deceptive tactic that made him appear weak.

In a flash, blades clashed, the already sweltering desert seemed on the verge of igniting.

Jing Heguang called out a warning to Xing Ming: “Watch out!”

He hadn’t expected the enemy to react so swiftly, even after losing several men, they immediately identified his weak points, their composure was chilling.

They were undoubtedly elite troops.

He had hoped to take out a few more, but for now, he had to abandon that plan.

Jing Heguang cut down two more riders, then sharply wheeled his horse around and charged toward Xing Ming.

“Mount up!” Jing Heguang shouted.

Xing Ming drew his long saber and leapt onto Jing Heguang’s horse.

Sharing a single mount reduced their maneuverability, but it vastly improved Xing Ming’s safety in the short term.

Xing Ming clung tightly to Jing Heguang’s waist, gripping a long saber that still gleamed with a cold, deadly light.

His blade remained a ‘white blade’, clean and untainted.

Jing Heguang’s blade, however, had become a ‘red blade’.

He galloped toward a gap in the enemy line and swiftly sliced through a few more foes.

Though he wielded an ordinary military saber, Jing Heguang cut through men as easily as slicing tofu.

With a single sweep, wherever the tip touched, a gaping wound would burst open, gushing blood like a torrent.

Those struck squarely by the blade were dismembered and killed instantly.

In the blink of an eye, blood pooled on the ground, staining the yellow desert sands a glaring crimson.

The air grew heavy with the pungent stench of blood, yet no one cared.

Breathing heavily with bloodshot eyes and minds stretched to the breaking point, they thought only of life and death.

Thud—

Jing Heguang’s horse stomped a deep crater into the reddened sand as he successfully sliced down two more enemies.

But just then, the seven or eight remaining foes closed in to surround them.

They were surrounded on all sides, wherever Jing Heguang turned, danger lurked at his back.

In just a brief moment, a sheen of sweat had broken out on Jing Heguang’s body, and he had expended a great deal of energy.

Xing Ming, whose arms were wrapped around Jing Heguang’s waist, could feel the dampness seeping through his clothes.

Glancing back, he saw that their pursuers were already close behind.

Xing Ming raised his blade: “We’re surrounded.”

“So they realize they’re surrounded!”

“Kill these two and drink their blood!”

“They definitely aren’t our countrymen, kill them! Avenge our brothers!”

There had been twenty-five of them, yet more than a dozen had already been cut down as easily as slicing through melons and vegetables.

This squad was the elite of the elite, chosen from ten thousand soldiers for the chance to go on this hunt.

Yet now, amidst the carnage and the stench of blood, they were all teetering on the brink of madness.

Had they not been hardened by years of guarding the frontier, tempered by frequent skirmishes and possessing iron wills, they likely would have fled long ago.

And right now, the opportunity was perfect: as long as someone held the front, those behind could launch a sneak attack at close range.

Jing Heguang licked his parched lips and patted Xing Ming’s hand.

Xing Ming replied in a hoarse voice, “I can hold them off for a while!”

He had never killed a person, or even a chicken in his life, though he did possess some martial skill.

It might be more for show than substance, but surely…it wouldn’t be completely useless.

Xing Ming steeled himself, his eyes turning red with intensity.

Today, either the enemy would all die, or he and Jing Heguang would perish together.

Xingming didn’t want to die.

He wanted to grow old with Jing Heguang, just as uncle Yu had said on the night of the Qixi Festival: “The matchmaker binds three lifetimes, hand in hand until the hair turns white.”

Jing Heguang, however, suddenly smiled. “We won’t need that today.”

Even as he spoke, his hand scooped up a palmful of hunting stones.

The pebbles shot through the air like the sharpest hidden weapons, embedding themselves viciously into the enemies’ flesh.

Thwip, thwip — the sounds rang out in rapid succession.

Or perhaps it was just one continuous sound, in the blink of an eye, five more Jin soldiers had already toppled over.

Only three remained, and they were utterly terrified out of their wits.

Jing Heguang effortlessly took them out from behind with three more pebbles.

Clinging to Jing Heguang’s waist, Xing Ming couldn’t help but think that the man could probably kill someone with just a strand of his hair.

He asked in a daze, “Are you the God of War?! You took on twenty-five enemies, and it was from the elite troops at that!”

Although it looked easy, keeping it up for those few minutes was more exhausting than three hours of lovemaking, Jing Heguang felt sweat soaking right down to his hair roots.

He turned his head and let out a breath, smiling.

His eyes fixed on Xing Ming’s face, fully exposed as the horse galloped, and he flashed a roguish grin.

“Not the God of War. Just your man.”

***

After showing off his prowess, Jing Heguang immediately reverted to his roguish ways.

He skillfully feigned arm pain, tricking Xing Ming into feeding him water and food.

He even made Xing Ming gather the spoils of battle.

Unfortunately, one Jin soldier wasn’t quite dead yet. Jing Heguang raised his hand to deliver the finishing blow, and promptly gave himself away.

“I thought your arm hurt?!” Xing Ming, having lost the chance to deliver the final strike himself, realized the discrepancy with a sense of frustration.

Jing Heguang feigned innocence and smiled. “I don’t mind the pain, I was just worried you were in danger.”

Xing Ming gave a soft harrumph.

Jing Heguang’s words were nothing but lies.

He had been watching Jing Heguang closely. If he were truly in pain, his expression would have betrayed it.

But just moments ago, Jing Heguang’s face had simply gone cold before he thrust his blade out, there hadn’t been the slightest sign of agony from his arm movement. In a word: glib.

With a look of distaste, Xing Ming dampened a cloth and scrubbed Jing Heguang’s face vigorously.

Jing Heguang lowered his head slightly to make it easier for him.

He was being remarkably docile at the moment, looking just like Chun Fen when caught doing something wrong.

After Xing Ming finished wiping everything down, Jing Heguang added, “I’m actually quite serious and proper with outsiders.”

The implication: I’m only not that way with you.

Xing Ming couldn’t help but curl his lips into a smile. “You dare say that? I might just ask around later.”

Ask around?

Jing Heguang felt a twinge of guilt.

The original owner was indeed a serious sort, but it seemed like practically everyone knew about his crush on Cui Leyou.

What was he supposed to do about that?

While grappling with that headache, Jing Heguang replied, “I really am a serious person.”

***

After packing up the luggage and switching to fresh horses, Jing Heguang and Xing Ming set off again.

It was already growing dark by the time they reached a suitable spot to rest.

Jing Heguang tidied up their sleeping area, while outside, the fresh meat soup Xing Ming was preparing finished cooking.

They had gathered plenty of water today, making it the perfect time to whip up a soup and satisfy their cravings.

Jing Heguang downed a large bowl in a few gulps, thoroughly enjoying it.

He smiled and praised the dish: “It’s delicious! Younger brother Xing, you’ve got quite the knack for this, I’m in for a treat from now on!”

Xing Ming looked at him with a smile. “That’s exactly what I used to say to trick my mother into making pastries for me.”

Shower her with praise, and he’d get more pastries to eat.

The campfire crackled and popped before them, the warm orange glow was bright enough to illuminate both their faces.

Jing Heguang tilted his head slightly. “Your mother must have been a wonderful person then.”

“Of course she was.” Xing Ming gazed into the fire as well.

Perhaps because the warm light bathed his face, he found himself recalling his mother with a surprisingly calm and pleasant feeling.

“My mother could make all sorts of pastries,” Xing Ming said wistfully. “Her osmanthus cakes were absolutely delicious.”

Jing Heguang watched the look of nostalgia on his face, and his brows slowly furrowed.

He had likely guessed the truth…younger brother Xing’s mother was no longer around.

Jing Heguang wrapped his arms around Xing Ming’s waist and promised, “I’ll make it for you from now on. Every year, right up until all your teeth fall out.”

Xing Ming blinked, the moisture in his eyes threatening to spill over.

When Jing Heguang had spoken of marrying him while standing on the stage, he had been overjoyed but hadn’t cried. Even after surviving a life-or-death ordeal and cheating death together, he hadn’t cried. Yet, at this simple promise made in the dead of night, he couldn’t hold back his emotions.

Embarrassed, Xing Ming buried his face in Jing Heguang’s chest and mumbled, “You’d better remember that, missing even a single year doesn’t count!”

Jing Heguang laughed, the vibration rumbling deep within his chest. “I’ve got it memorized!”

While Jing Heguang laughed, Xing Ming suddenly went rigid.

A moment later, Xing Ming lifted his head from Jing Heguang’s embrace. His eyes, usually cool and aloof, were now brimming with laughter.

Jing Heguang: “?”

“What is it? What are you laughing at?”

Xing Ming straightened his back and burst into laughter. “You stink! You’re even dirtier than the first time I met you.”

Jing Heguang raised an arm, there was no need to even take a sniff.

But a man would never admit defeat. Jing Heguang pulled him closer and retorted stubbornly, “You like me even when I’m dirty.”

Xing Ming thought back to the first time he’d met this man, and Jing Heguang was right, he did like him even when he was dirty.

But…he certainly wasn’t going to admit it.

***

They traveled for a full half-month.

They watched the sun rise and set fifteen times.

Jing Heguang witnessed the vastness of the landscape, the round sun setting over the long river and the solitary plume of smoke rising straight up in the desert, as well as the terrifying, absolute silence of the wilderness.

Fortunately, he had brought Xing Ming along, or he might have gone mad from the isolation.

Yet, even with a companion, the journey was grueling.

Aside from encountering soldiers from the Jin’s, they also ran into a peculiar Jin merchant caravan along the way, though they managed to narrowly avoid a confrontation.

Upon catching sight of human habitation again, Jing Heguang’s face lit up with excitement as he gazed at the flag not far off: “It’s our people!”

Ahead lay a small county town, its walls were battered and dilapidated, a truly sorry sight.

Four sentries stood guard at the gate.

Fortunately, the original owner held a position of some standing. By producing his official seal, he quickly secured safe entry for himself and Xing Ming.

After such a long, arduous journey, the first order of business was, naturally, a bath.

However, just as Jing Heguang was bathing, someone burst into the room, speaking in an anxious tone.

“Brother Jing! You’ve returned just in the nick of time, sister Leyou has been abducted. There’s a strong chance she’s been sold to the Jin’s!”

The visitor was Cui Tong, Cui Leyou’s cousin.