Chapter 105

  The vast land is as desolate as an ice sea, boundless and endless, with no horizon in sight.

  The sun, like a fireball, jumped out from the horizon, majestic and full, burning fiercely, with golden light swallowing the sky and earth. On the vast snowy plain, it scattered a brilliant glow like a golden armor.

  A strong wind rises, and the clouds fly high. The fierce gale sweeps across the sky and earth, and tens of thousands of snow waves turn over with it, dancing out a magnificent dance in mid-air, as if the last song of the fairy on the wave. In a vast expanse of pure white, there is a low roar coming from the distant horizon, like the last howl of an ancient beast, carrying a strong and shocking aura that shakes people's hearts. The pulsating drumbeats surge through one's blood, synchronizing with the heartbeat, slowly crawling up the spine from the soles, triggering an inward-to-outward shockwave. Huge snow waves come rushing from the horizon, row after row, sheet after sheet, whistling and roaring, vast and endless.

  Under the sprinkling of sunlight, a proud and resolute figure, sharp as a war god in a prosperous era, wearing gorgeous armor, trampling on layers of snowy waves, holding a gleaming bloodthirsty long spear, with vast and dazzling sunlight behind him, a huge red sun slowly rising behind him, painting an absolutely beautiful totem between heaven and earth.

  The horse's hooves flew high, its neighing and roaring loud, as if the entire earth was also singing a triumphant song for that son of heaven born from blood and fire.

  For three hundred years, the youngest and most powerful generation of the Nan Chu Empire, the proud Chuyi Da Huang Chuli, stepped onto the vast and majestic land of Bailu Yuan under the radiant light of Xue Yang!

  In that instant, she only felt a sharp pain in her eyes, she pursed the corners of her mouth, slightly raised her head, her eyes were sharp and profound, staring unblinkingly at Chu Li's increasingly straight and upright back.

  He was meant to be such a man, dominating the world, with power that could shake heaven and earth with just one sharp glance. Standing at the highest point, looking down on the vast expanse of humanity, making all of heaven and earth submit to his feet, with the entire land cheering for him. He was meant to shine like the radiant sun in a prosperous era, radiating dazzling light, conquering every corner of the land with iron hooves, subjugating all doubts and resistance with an invincible attitude. This is his destiny, like the destructive star in the starry sky, reborn in destruction, shining brightly across the four seas, ruling supreme over the world.

  This is him, this is the path he should be taking.

  Not the lonely king who wants to believe in someone in the small building in the middle of the lake, not the man with a desolate look in his eyes outside the city of Shengdu, not the puppet who endures humiliation and hardship beside Mrs. Zhuolan, not the patient with a thousand poisons piercing his heart on the sandy beach, nor should he be the one who is covered in glory and wears dragon robes, yet still abandons his dignity and begs her to stay.

  Chu Li, Chu Li, this world owes you, and you have repaid the world in full. Yet to me, you have always reserved a rare gentleness. You never intentionally hurt me. But now, I stand here, beside Qin Zhiyan, before the elite troops of four nations, watching as they rush to rescue you from afar, one knife slash at a time, annihilating your deep affection, and letting the eagles and vultures devour the last warmth of your being.

  After all, I am still a selfish person. Please forgive me for not being able to stand by your side, which is filled with dust and wounds, waiting for time to heal them one by one. Please forgive me for not being able to spend my time and life guarding you, waiting for you to put down the hatred of the past. Please forgive me for not being good enough for you, unable to deceive myself by closing my eyes and saying that this man loves and protects me wholeheartedly.

  I'm sorry, Chu Li. Please forgive me for being too selfish and unable to tolerate a man who wraps himself up tightly, on guard against the whole world and all of humanity. On the surface, I am tough, using solid walls to protect my fragile heart, which is actually very small and cannot hold your grand ambitions, your majestic rivers and mountains, your suspicions and secrets, or your fiery emotions that burn like a raging fire. Please forgive me for not wanting to be the moth that flutters into the flames. I'm just a naturally cold-blooded woman who doesn't want to wait around for those hard-to-get emotions. Someone as resolute as you will surely understand: it's all or nothing. As for your suspicions and secrets, someone as weak as me can only keep a distance.

  A strong gust of wind blew, and snowflakes danced in the air. The black-armored warriors rushed from the distant horizon, their warhorses' breath gathering into a white mist that almost splashed onto Qing Xia's face. Those hot gases had a strong bloody smell, these battle-hardened warhorses galloped from afar, carrying the unique killing aura of the southern border warhorses, like a black roaring sea.

  Suddenly, the tens of thousands of war horses neighed in unison, stood up, and simultaneously lifted their front hooves, stopping with a whinny, facing the elite Iron Cavalry Flame Character Camp of Qin.

  History is always a surprising coincidence, three hundred years ago, the Great Qin Empire was fragmented, and Chu Yuancheng, the master of Southern Chu, faced off against Qin Xiaohai, the Tiger of Qin River, here, firing the first shot of the Four Nations' chaotic separation. It was also here that the peerless enchantress Su Hongyun played out the eternal tragic song "Liu Yun Shang", leaving behind a timeless masterpiece that swept across the four corners.

  Three hundred years later, the footsteps of time slowly moved forward and finally stopped again in another cycle of killing. The turbulent world with wind and clouds, on the snowy White Deer Plain, the two countries of Qin and Chu once again pointed their blades at each other, drew their swords and faced off!

  Chu Li's eyes were sharp and his face was firm, as if he were a god standing with his back to the rising sun, facing the army. His robe fluttered in the wind, his long spear shone brightly, and his black warhorse seemed to be one with him. The cold wind howled and danced, snowflakes swirled between the two armies, and it was as if a great snowstorm was swirling around the three of them. Time seemed to freeze at this moment, Qing Xia stood beside Qin Zhiyan, gazing into Chu Li's eyes which were like a deep ocean, her body frozen, her head held high in reverence.

  In the vast emptiness above, there is a god who governs despair and longing, in low, voiceless sighs.

  Finally, the ruthless hand was not enough to throw away, finally, the decisive hand was not enough to throw away. The sky was filled with clouds, the ground was covered with frost, and endless sorrow and despair were scattered everywhere. His chest was surging with emotions, his black hair was flying in the wind, and he took a deep breath, but there was a bloody taste spreading in his mouth. He stared straight at Qing Xia, deeply staring, without any expression, without any words, without any movement, just staring, with too many desperate landscapes flashing in his eyes, a huge storm gathering in the air, making it hard to breathe, and an overwhelming sense of oppression echoing through the six directions.

  Heavy snowflakes dance in the air, wind blows across the land. After a year of planning and scheming, countless sleepless nights filled with anxiety, numerous intelligence reports stained with blood, all were still unable to withstand the news about her, the suffering she endured. Disregarding the opposition from the entire nation, he single-handedly led his troops into the heartland of Western Sichuan, only to be met once again with this same resolute determination.

  Finally, still one step too late, finally, still missed the opportunity, finally, another desperate near miss.

  His entire life has been a series of missed encounters with her. In his youth, in order to protect himself, he ruthlessly pushed her away, and the sound of her shattered cries still echoes in his mind, making him break out in cold sweat in the middle of the night after returning home. He carefully calculated and cautiously approached her, only to drive her away once again, leaving no news from her. After a series of twists and turns, they reunited, thinking that everything had become a distant memory, but one misstep led to complete defeat, and they became strangers in the end.

  Zhuang Qing Xia, how can you be so cruel and heartless, repaying me with such contempt?

  And I, why so weak, unable to control myself and forget?

  A strong gust of wind blew, and a pale woman stood tall on her warhorse, wearing a snow-white sable coat, exuding an icy elegance that pierced to the bone. Her beauty was unparalleled, with a rare loveliness and haughty demeanor that set her apart from the crowd. She stood amidst the throng, her head held high as she gazed at the man across from her, whose complicated past with her was as tangled as the wind-whipped snowflakes. The turmoil in her heart churned like a stormy sea, memories of bygone days swirling and churning in her mind, stirring up the snowy skies and shattering the frozen lake's surface.

  The imperial prince of the dynasty who first met her and shouted for a doctor while holding her unconscious body.

  The man who was desperately roaring in the midst of fierce flames.

  That cold and hard general who refused to admit his own feelings in the Cold Palace, yet still came to remind her to take care of herself.

  That child who fought side by side with her in the wilderness, bitten by a venomous snake, and exhausted from a deep sleep.

  There were also the desolate eyes outside Shengdu City, the ridiculous stubbornness of practicing guns in the northern border camp at midnight, the desperate persistence on the sandy beach, and that night when they first returned to the military camp and slept together, all of which were churning and shouting in the depths of Qing Xia's heart, almost tearing his heart in two.

  Unfortunately, she was just an ordinary person, without the all-knowing eyes of a god. She couldn't see Chu Li's bitter despair, nor his lonely and painstaking efforts, nor his elaborate plans. All she saw were the fleeing war fires, the cruel slaughter, the brutal violence that didn't distinguish between loyalty and treachery, good and evil. If it weren't for Qin Zhiyan's reminder, even now, she still wouldn't know everything about the Xi Lin family.

  Chu Li, you could have explained, you could have stayed, you could have told me everything. But you didn't. If from start to finish, you wanted to exclude me, then how can you talk about your so-called love?

  The long-standing confrontation, the wind that had been unchanged for ages, passed through a few people, and Chuli's horse suddenly took a step forward, as if it had made a great decision, and opened up a position. Behind him, an old man with a pale face but a clear expression, with white eyebrows and whiskers, slowly revealed his face, saw Qing Xia, smiled kindly, nodded slightly, stretched out his hand lightly, and said lightly: "Xia Er, follow your father back."

  A northern white eagle suddenly flew over the sky, making a sharp and long cry. Qing Xia was stunned, only to see Zhuang Dianru standing beside Chu Li, with a gentle and kind smile, his eyes shining with wisdom, faintly smiling and stretching out his hand to himself, without saying a word. While Chu Li's face was gloomy, coldly staring at Qing Xia, also not speaking a word.

  "Your Highness, I am not a subject of Qin State, nor am I your subordinate. Please forgive me for not paying my respects to you with the proper etiquette."

  Qin's voice was thick and rich, with a faint smile: "Mr. Zhuang is the academic leader of today's world, with a wealth of knowledge, it is I who should be asking you how you are."

  Zhuang Dianru smiled and said, "Thank you, Your Highness, for lending a helping hand to my daughter. Thanks to your rescue, we can have a reunion today. I am overwhelmed with gratitude."

  Qin Zhiyan nodded and turned to Qing Xia, saying: "Yima'er, your father has arrived. If you want to go back, I won't stop you. If you don't want to, no one will force you either. You decide for yourself."

  Qing Xia was taken aback, her eyebrows furrowed tightly. How could he throw this question at her? How could he speak so lightly? But when she turned around, she found that Qin Zhiyan's calm eyes no longer had a carefree and cloudless look. Since meeting her, he was no longer the elegant and refined gentleman, no longer cold and detached. He too would lose his composure, disregarding everything else. At this moment, he gazed deeply at her, his eyes like those of a gambler who had staked everything on one last bet, waiting anxiously for the bloody outcome.

  Either win everything under heaven, or have nothing at all.

  Qin's flame, his heart is profound and wise, knowledgeable of the past and present, he has a strong memory and calculates all under heaven, extraordinary and elegant gentleman, how can such a wonderful person have such a fiery and crazy gaze?

  Qing Xia knew that she ultimately leaned towards him, apart from Qin Zhiyan's extraordinary talent and stunning looks, there was another most important reason.

  Because in front of Qin Zhiyan, she is just Yima, but in front of Chu Li, she is still Zhuang Qingxia.

  She propped herself up on the saddle, flipped over and got off the horse, walked a few steps forward, and slowly approached the army of Southern Chu. Qin Zhiyan's face was calm as water, but his eyes were tightly fixed on her, Chu Li's expression was sharp and eagle-like, sparks flew in the air, and tens of thousands of soldiers stared at the petite woman.

  Suddenly, Qing Xia stopped in her tracks, knelt down on the ground, and knocked her head heavily on the floor. She spoke loudly to Zhuang Dian Ru: "Father, your daughter has sacrificed for the family all her life, being welcomed and sent away by you, handed over to others. What she should do, she has done; what she should return, she has returned to you. Now, she only hopes to be reborn once, no longer bound by the name Zhuang Qing Xia. You can consider her dead outside Yao Guan or dead in the cold arrow poison of Nan Chu's back palace. From now on, Zhuang Qing Xia will disappear from the world; I am Yimaer, from overseas, without roots, without family, without country, and without relatives. Please, Father, fulfill my wish."

  "What a fine scene of no roots, no home, no country and no relatives!" A loud and boisterous laughter suddenly burst forth, the army rushed forward with a whooshing sound, the fragrance of swallowtail orchids filled the air, amidst the crimson wind, the tinkling of jade pendants on their helmets, they galloped towards him with loud laughter. By his side, in a bright yellow robe, with a face as white as jade and eyes like shining stars, was the Eastern Qi Crown Prince An, riding a sorrel horse, leading the Eastern Qi generals, rushing forth instantly.

  The long wind howls between heaven and earth, the clouds hang down in all directions, the great armies of the four nations form a crescent shape, gathering on the vast snowy hills, their momentum is awe-inspiring.

  In the midst of the four-sided siege, Qing Xia wore a white fur coat, her beauty unmatched, kneeling between the four armies, looking up at the high heads of the horses.

  The heavens are vast and empty, the myriad sounds are silent, the eyes of the heavenly gods gaze down upon the boundless earth, watching the chess pieces below, stirring up the turbulent winds and clouds of this chaotic world!