Chapter 104

  The fourth watch had just struck, and Qing Xia woke up quietly. Her eyelids fluttered open, and she saw a face close to hers, calm and gentle, with thick black eyelashes casting a small shadow. For a moment, her mind seemed dazed, and everything from the night before seemed like a dream. She pulled open the silk quilt covering her body, revealing scattered marks left behind by their passion.

  A flush of red crept up her cheeks, and with a slight movement, a wave of discomfort spread from below, her eyebrows only slightly furrowed, startling the sleeping man beside her.

  Qin's flames slowly opened his eyes, a pair of starry eyes like transparent gems, black hair scattered behind him, which made his sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, wind-clear jade youth even more striking. He stretched out his long arm and pulled Qing Xia into his embrace, his voice filled with a hint of guilt as he said: "Yima, I'm sorry, I didn't know you were... are you uncomfortable?"

  Zhuang Qingxia leaned against his chest, resting her head on his arm, and gently shook her head. Not just him, but even she herself hadn't expected it. Chu Li may not have approached Zhuang Qingxia during the time he was back in the country due to various emotional knots, but she hadn't thought that even Qi An hadn't touched Zhuang Qingxia's body. She slowly closed her eyes, her voice low and soft, like a small beast, whispering: "Qin Zhiyan, are you afraid?"

  Obviously, Qin Zhiyan's arm stiffened, Qing Xia turned around, facing Zhiyan, and looked up at him with her head raised in his arms, gazing into his eyes, her eyes calm, and said softly: "You're not that kind of person, you wouldn't be so impatient, is it because you heard Yan Hui's words and knew that Chu Li was coming?"

  Qin's gaze was concentrated, like a frozen mirror lake, without revealing a single ripple.

  Qing Xia looked at him steadily, slowly stretched out her hand and stroked his handsome face, saying softly: "You're afraid I'll leave with Chu Li, are you?"

  Qin's flames gazed into Qing Xia's eyes, so warm and gentle, yet still carrying a hint of childish sorrow. Finally, he faintly curled up the corners of his mouth, nodded, and said: "Yes, I'm afraid, afraid that he'll take you away. Afraid that you'll follow him like that time in the desert. I can't stop you, can't force you, can't use violence to keep you here, so all I can do is hope for more chips, more places that make you want to stay, more memories that make you feel cherished. Aima, I shouldn't have used my heart on you, but I did."

  Qing Xia gazed at Qin Zhiyan's peerless and elegant face, and suddenly felt that the softness in her heart was gently touched.

  Qin Zhiyan, extraordinary and unconventional as you are, do you also have things that scare you? Although she had already anticipated everything, hearing him personally admit to all of this still made Qing Xia's heart ache and tighten up. She smiled faintly as she stroked Qin Zhiyan's face, tracing his handsome eyebrows, straight nose, and thin lips, finally smiling softly and saying: "Fool."

  "Yima," Qin Zhiyan said in a low voice, embracing Qing Xia's shoulders, "From a very young age, I've always told myself that I must not have any lingering attachment to anything. If something is not meant to be, the one who ends up getting hurt is always oneself. But this time, I really hope I can keep you, no matter what method it takes, I want to try my best."

  Qing Xia buried her face in Qin Zhiyan's arms and said in a muffled voice: "Qin Zhiyan, don't be so good to me."

  "No, Yima, I'm not good enough." Qin Zhiyan smiled faintly, his smile carrying an unspeakable bitterness. His eyebrows and eyes seemed to be shrouded in a layer of thin gauze, like distant mountains that couldn't be seen clearly.

  "I'm a selfish person, I've contracted a serious illness, and I was never meant to have a future anyway. Back when we were outside the imperial mausoleum, I could have let you go with that excuse, but now, I selfishly want to keep you by my side. Yima, just let me take good care of you for as long as I live, until the day I can no longer watch over you, okay?"

  "Nonsense!" Qing Xia's eyebrows suddenly furrowed tightly, she bit her lower lip, and stretched out her slender arm to tightly hug Qin Zhiyan's waist: "You won't be in trouble, I don't allow you to be in trouble."

  "En." Qin Zhiyan's smile emanated from his chest, and Qing Xia's small head was stuck to his body, hugging him tightly.

  She can no longer allow the people around her to leave, she can no longer afford it. Qin Zhiyan, you are like a fairy who walked out of a landscape painting, I couldn't see clearly, couldn't tell, I knew nothing about you, not even as much as my understanding of Chu Li, but why, intuition made me choose to believe in you, I am willing to believe every word you say, willing to believe everything you do, and for all the causes and effects, I don't want to think or ponder anymore. Qin Zhiyan, what kind of result will this blind trust bring? I don't know, I only know that after trekking for so long, in this strange and turbulent environment, being cautious every step of the way until today, finally, I'm tired.

  In this tumultuous and unpredictable world, only your embrace has ever brought me warmth. Let me abandon reason and trust you once, without considering the consequences. From now on, I will no longer be afraid of darkness, bloodshed, war, human malice, conspiracy, or calculation. As long as you are by my side, I am not afraid of anything.

  "Qin Zhiyan, I'll be with you." A low breath sounded in his ear, the woman's eyes were like a gentle river, she lightly kissed Qin Zhiyan's lips and smiled: "I'll be with you."

  The sun had not risen, and the earth was still immersed in darkness. Qing Xia leaned against Qin Zhiyan's chest, but felt the warmth of sunlight on her face. On the day before they broke camp, Qing Xia went to Mr. Cang You's room to get medicine. Just as she was about to lift the curtain, a woman wearing a gray long gown walked out from inside, almost colliding with Qing Xia. Seeing Qing Xia seemingly stunned and stopping in her tracks, she frowned and said in a low voice: "Who are you? How can there be a woman in Zhiyan's camp?"

  A sharp hostility surged up, Qing Xia's eyebrows slightly raised, the smile that was originally hanging on her face also gradually faded away. In a calm tone, she said: "You're not a woman? Get out of my way!"

  The woman in grey had a pale complexion, deep eye sockets and sharp facial features that didn't seem to belong to the Han people, but rather resembled those of a barbarian. She stood still after hearing Qing Xia's words, gazing at her coldly with eyes filled with hostility.

  Qing Xia sneered inwardly and suddenly stretched out his hand, pushing it onto the woman's shoulder. The gray-clothed woman grunted and her body leaned to the side, her hands forming claws as she fiercely clawed at Qing Xia's wrist.

  This grab came with a whooshing sound, and it was clear that the force was great. If she were to be caught, Qing Xia's hand would not be crippled but would fracture. Seeing her come out so fiercely, Qing Xia suddenly became angry, and with a sharp glint in his eye, he used a rear chop-style grappling hand, and with both hands forming scissors, grabbed onto the opponent's wrist.

  The woman was caught off guard, and in an instant, she let out a cold laugh. With a swift motion, she exerted her strength, lifting the person from their original position. Using the momentum of her swing, she borrowed force to strike back, sending the person flying to the side with a loud "thud".

  The woman in grey robes stumbled and barely managed to steady herself, avoiding a humiliating fall to the ground. When she turned back to look at Qing Xia, her previous disdain and condescension had disappeared, replaced by wariness and awe.

  Qing Xia's eyes were cold as he glanced at her, then turned and walked into the large tent of the old man with a long white beard, leaving him standing alone in the cold wind outside.

  An old man with a grey beard handed Qing Xia a box of pills, saying: "This is Xiangxue Pill made from twin lotus, it's an effective medicine for your illness. I got the recipe from a wandering Taoist many years ago. Unfortunately, twin lotus is rare and precious, so I didn't have enough to make more."

  A faint medicinal scent wafted over, Qing Xia took the box and furrowed her brow, saying: "Old sir, what is His Highness's illness? Can you tell me?"

  "What exactly is the disease, I'm not even sure myself." The old man with a grey beard shook his head, habitually rubbing his hands together, and said: "Back then, the master of the Xilin family, Xilin Yu, and the witch doctors from Nanjiang all concluded that it was caused by the poisonous insects from Nanjiang. However, after so many years of treatment, even if it were the most toxic Thousand Scorpion Insect, it should have been cleared out by now. From my perspective, it's also possible that it's the White Witchcraft used by the White Barbarians from the North Ice Abyss."

  "What is white witchcraft?" Qing Xia slightly furrowed her brow, as far as she knew, even the poisonous insects of Nanjiang were just a clever use of bacteria, not some kind of supernatural power. Even if it was sinister and ruthless, there must be a way to dispel it, as long as medical treatment was proper, relying on modern chemical knowledge, it shouldn't be impossible to cure. But if it involved supernatural powers, things would become somewhat tricky. Qing Xia, although an atheist, had seen and experienced much in her life, and knew that some things couldn't be explained by scientific theory. She asked in a low voice: "What is white witchcraft?"

  "It is said that beneath the frozen continent of the North, there is a frozen abyss where lives a group of pale-skinned and blue-eyed white savages, skilled in sorcery, similar to those from the Southern Frontier. However, they do not primarily use fire poison or venomous insects, but rather ice poison. They are cruel by nature, and those who are poisoned will surely die. Even if there are lucky ones who manage to escape, they will be tormented by illness for the rest of their lives, fearing cold and having extremely short lifespans."

  Qing Xia furrowed his brow and said in a deep voice, "Isn't there something more detailed?"

  The old man with the grey beard said, "No, the White Barbarians are mysterious and rarely set foot in China. This is what that disciple of Qiu Hill told me when I first met him."

  "Is there no way for Mr. to be cured?"

  The old man with a grey beard smiled bitterly and said: "I am just an army doctor, not the exclusive doctor of your highness. Before you went to Bailu yuan this time, five shamans raised in the palace diagnosed for you, guaranteeing that you will not get sick for a month. Otherwise, how can I be qualified to diagnose your illness with my ability? However, in my opinion, even if the southern shaman's medical skills are excellent, they have no power over this white witchcraft. If you want to cure it thoroughly, you can only find the descendants of the Qiuqiu family. If it is the current head of the Qiuqiu family, there may still be a glimmer of hope."

  Qing Xia nodded and thanked him. Suddenly, he caught sight of a Qingmu wooden box placed at the foot of the table, which was the same box he had used to present the double lotus flowers to himself earlier. With a puzzled expression, he opened it and found two pure white double lotus flowers perfectly placed inside, looking as crystal clear as ice and snow. They were even bigger than the one he had found himself.

  "Old sir, where did this twin lotus come from?"

  "It was sent by Miss Mu Lian, she went to Beidi for over a month, just to find herbs for Your Highness."

  Qing Xia's eyebrows rose slightly as he said in a low voice, "Mu Lian young lady?"

  "Yes, she just went out, didn't you see her?"

  "Oh." Qing Xia nodded and bid farewell to the old man with a white beard before walking out.

  Only to see the people in the Flame Character Camp packing their luggage in an orderly manner, preparing to break camp. Qing Xia walked towards his own tent and lifted the curtain to see Li Xian helping him pack his bags, so he smiled and went forward to greet him.

  "Li Xian, do you know a woman named Muliang?"

  Li Xian was taken aback and said: "How did Qing Jie know about her?"

  Qing Xia said: "Do you know her?"

  "Who wouldn't know her?" Li Xian sat on the felt, and replied: "She is a famous traitor among the Xiongnu people, and was once the daughter of the previous chieftain of the Mu Lian tribe. After the chieftain's death, she was sent to our Qin state as a spy by her brother, and became a songstress in the Ying Ge Bieyuan, stealing many confidential documents from the powerful ministers, causing several border cities to be breached, with many families destroyed and heavy casualties. Later, she was discovered, and for the sake of survival, she defected to the Second Prince, leading the Northern Xiongnu army into a Qin ambush, which greatly weakened the Northern Xiongnu, and they have not recovered to this day. It is also because of her that the Northern Xiongnu people expelled the Mu Lian people from their tribe, and the Mu Lian people had no choice but to hide in the north and establish their own route."

  Qing Xia's eyebrows furrowed slightly, she hadn't expected this woman to be such a fickle and treacherous traitor. She asked in a low voice, "Then why was she in the Yanzi Camp?"

  Li Xian said, "Although she has made contributions to the Great Qin, she was despised by the people of Qin because she had betrayed and sold out the border town's civilians. After the Second Prince's matter was settled, he handed her over to the military uniform warehouse, where she was sent to the Northern Frontier Camp as a military prostitute. Later, I don't know how, but it was reported that she was transferred from the Northern Frontier to the Flame Character Camp by Your Highness. I heard that her military registration had long been removed from the army, yet she still lingered in the Flame Character Camp and refused to leave. Indeed, a treacherous rebel like her has no place to stand in this vast world."

  Qing Xia nodded, Qing Xia stood up and hastily packed her things. Just as it was almost time to break camp, she suddenly remembered something and turned around to ask: "Li Xian, have you ever heard this poem somewhere: 'Will be on the top of the ridge, overlooking all the small mountains'?"

  Li Xian smiled and said: "Qing Jie, do you think I'm a fool? This is the eternal masterpiece of the Poet Saint Du Fu, how could I not know?"

  "Du Fu?" Qing Xia's eyebrows rose slightly, had history changed its course and Du Fu been born prematurely? Everything became increasingly mysterious, all the events gradually wove into a thread, but still lacked some crucial elements. Qing Xia fell silent, deep in thought, her brow furrowing. The sun slowly rose from the horizon, casting a golden glow over the land. The sound of bugles blared, like thunder rolling in, as the massive army of 130,000 soldiers sat proudly on their warhorses, their imposing presence awe-inspiring and intimidating.

  Under the majestic military attire, Qin Zhiyan wore a silver-white armor, with a dark green cloak draped behind him. His eyebrows and eyes were warm and gentle, yet exuded an elegant and noble royal aura. Qing Xia sat on a black warhorse beside him, his eyebrows and eyes sharp as ice and snow, his skin as white as snow, and his lips bright red. Standing together with Qin Zhiyan, they looked like a pair of celestial beings, possessing an otherworldly beauty that seemed almost unreal.

  Dark clouds are low and thin at dusk, swift snow dances back with the wind.

  The White Deer Plain is vast and open, with a million miles of snow-covered land stretching out before one's eyes. The entire plain is covered in a thick layer of white snow, with the north wind howling and swirling it into drifts. The sky above is layered with clouds, and the biting cold wind cuts across one's face, sweeping across the vast and desolate landscape wrapped in silver and white. The large snowflakes dance and swirl through the air like goose feathers, filling the entire sky and creating a majestic and awe-inspiring spectacle of the northern wilderness.

  Qing Xia sat on the war horse, wearing a white fox fur cloak, with eyes like morning stars and a clear face. A huge canopy covered her head, Qin's face was calm and serene, with a warm and soft mouth, as if she understood everything in her heart, calmly closing her eyes, looking at the vast expanse of land in front of her.

  Suddenly, a distant rumbling sound began to rise, from a point to the entire surface, as if the rolling thunder at the edge of the sky, huge snow waves surged layer by layer, sweeping across the horizon.

  Qing Xia's heart tightened and her complexion changed slightly. At this moment, a slender white hand suddenly stretched out from the wide sleeve of his robe and grasped Qing Xia's hand.

  Qing Xia turned her head around, only to see Qin Zhiyan's eyes calm and determined, as if he had transcended the world, like a banished immortal.

  "Your Majesty! The imperial carriage of the Great Emperor of Southern Chu has arrived!"

  The sound of the scout's voice came from afar, and Qing Xia and Qin Zhiyan looked up at the same time, only to see a piece of snow waves rushing by, with bright yellow light in the gap between heaven and earth, slowly surging and flying, with a powerful momentum, millions of rays of light, like the rising sun, flashing dazzlingly.

  The thundering hooves came pouring in from all directions, their sound shaking the heavens and stirring men's souls.

  The loud drumbeat suddenly echoed across the land, and the thrilling drumbeat seemed to be beating in everyone's heart, with the blood in their bones also starting to pulsate.

  In the distance, all that could be seen was a vast expanse of snowy terrain, and on it, a lone figure sat tall and proud on horseback, galloping towards them with lightning speed!