Chapter 92: The Horizon of Despair

  That night was the first time in many years she had a dream about Chu Li.

  In the dream, it was pitch black, with only a faint white glow on top of his head. Chu Li wore a wide robe with large sleeves and a brocade face, and the dragon robe on him had an oppressive atmosphere that made people suffocate. In the dream, he seemed to be unable to see himself, everything looked like a static painting, he was sitting on the throne in the imperial city of Qi Du, surrounded by a deep sea-like silent black background. Qing Xia's breathing was rapid, she seemed to know that she was in a dream, but it also felt real, everything was so realistic, Chu Li's face had a cold and sharp edge like a knife, his eyes were like the darkest ocean, calm on the surface as if frozen, but inside was a turbulent storm.

  Suddenly, the doors of the grand hall burst open and a gust of wind rushed in. Outside, a night-blooming flower instantly bloomed, its white petals shining like a ghostly lantern in the darkness. Qing Xia turned his head to gaze at the flower, but suddenly saw Xi Lin Yu Jiao step out from behind it. She wore a white warrior's uniform, her head held high with pride, and a bright smile on her face that radiated confidence. Step by step, she walked into the grand hall, slowly extending her hand as if reaching for Chu Li. But just then, countless sharp arrows shot in from the doorway like a swarm of locusts, piercing her body and filling the golden hall with blood once again. The white petals were stained red, and the blood slowly spread to Qing Xia's ankles.

  Qing Xia covered her mouth, wanting to shout loudly, but her throat seemed to have lost its voice. She stretched out her trembling hand, trying to grab Xilin Yuqiao's wrist, but the distance between them seemed like a chasm. Qing Xia's body was icy cold, she wanted to lift her head and ask Chu Li loudly, but just then, Chu Li's face suddenly rippled like water. His skin rapidly aged, wrinkles crawling up his forehead and neck, his hair turned gray in an instant, his palms dry as orange peel, his body withered away in the blink of an eye, losing its vitality. Suddenly, a sharp arrow pierced through his chest, Qing Xia's eyes widened, the pale-faced youth slowly pulled out the sword from Chu Li's body.

  Bright red blood spread out on the golden throne, Qing Xia looked at Chu Li in disbelief, her heart felt as if it had been cut by a knife, a huge hole, cold wind whizzed in, her entire body was icy.

  At this moment, the old Chu Li slowly raised his head, a pair of dull eyes looked at Qing Xia, shook his head with a bitter smile, and his hoarse voice was like a knife scratching a copper drum.

  "Still, do you hate me?"

  With a puff, Chu Li's body instantly turned into a wisp of flying ash and disappeared on the throne.

  A sharp, piercing pain shot through Qing Xia's heart, and she clutched her mouth tightly, but couldn't suppress the shrill cry that filled the Golden Hall, like a desperate beast letting out its final scream.

  He suddenly sat up and found it was just a dream.

  His clothes were all drenched with sweat, and his hair was also wet. The room at night was a bit cold, the leaky window blew in gusts of cold wind inside. Qing Xia put on her jacket and padded jacket, got out of bed, walked to the charcoal brazier and added some charcoal, then used tongs to pick up the fire basin, lifted the curtain and headed towards the west house.

  This is the wing room of Du Yihua's house. In the past, only Qing Xia lived here alone, but now Xi Linchen has also moved in.

  Being able to find Xilin's orphan is also a great comfort for Qingxia. On that day, in the Western Black Wilderness, Qingxia disregarded her own injuries and risked her life several times to search for Xilin Rong and the child's whereabouts, but ultimately had no results. Who would have thought that fate would let them meet here again after a year?

  Qing Xia didn't go after asking about Xi Lin's whereabouts, perhaps she vaguely knew the outcome, but just didn't want to confirm it. Many times, she couldn't do anything, her ability was only that much.

  Inside the thick cotton curtain, a room was quiet and cool. The brazier had gone out, but Qing Xia put down the brazier in her hand and added some charcoal to the extinguished one. Before long, the room warmed up.

  She quietly walked to the edge of the fire pit, reached out and touched it, feeling a chill. The house had been uninhabited for a long time, the pit was filled with ash, and even when lit, it wasn't very warm. Qing Xia inserted the charcoal brazier into the pit and squatted in front of it, watching carefully. After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, she reached out and touched it again, and it had already started to warm up.

  The moonlight outside was a sheet of pure white, reflecting the snow-covered ground with a bright light. She looked down at the boy's eyebrows and eyes, only to find that he resembled Xilin Yu very much, especially the bridge of his nose and the corners of his mouth, which were slightly similar to Xilin Yuqiao's. In fact, she didn't have any deep connection with the Xilin family, and her relationship with Xilin siblings was just a few encounters. However, the fact that Xilin Yuqiao had died because of her made it impossible for her to forget, like a fishbone stuck in her throat, or a thorn on her back.

  After staying in one place for a long time, there will always be such and such entanglements. The debt to the Xilin family is one of her current entanglements.

  Xiling pulled the corner of her quilt, Qingxia looked around and slowly walked out of the room. As soon as she left, the young man on the kang suddenly opened his eyes, with a clear and bright expression, not looking like someone who had just woken up.

  Outside the window, it's slightly bright, and the long night is about to pass. Aunt Duo Hua always gets up early, from the east side, the sound of opening the door was heard. The young man lay on the warm kang, his expression slightly dazed.

  It's been a year!

  He muttered to himself, Father, Mother, Elder Brother, Sister, it's been a year already.

  The next morning, Bambur and Nakdo set out to hunt in the mountains. Qing Xia's expression changed slightly upon hearing this, only then remembering that it was already around Chinese New Year.

  Today, the northern region was hit by a heavy snowstorm, and many places were affected by strong winds and snow. Not only did it affect Mulan's department, but also the Xiongnu from the northwest would occasionally come to the villages on this side to loot and kill. A few days ago, I just heard that a small tribe near Mulan's department was looted, and Aunt Duohe didn't want her two sons to go, so she persuaded them with all her might for half a day. Qingxia saw how worried she was and stepped forward, saying: "Forget it, I'll go with them instead."

  Bamboo Brother was overjoyed, and hurriedly called out to her. Aunt Duo Hua had always believed that Qing Xia was a capable person, so seeing her follow along, she slightly put her mind at ease, smiling as she said: "Then let's go early and return early!"

  The door creaked open on the west side, and Qing Xia turned her head to see a young man wearing a cotton-padded jacket made of Baanbul fabric standing at the entrance. His face was still somewhat pale, but he didn't look as bad as when she first saw him.

  A few steps forward, the young man was about the same height as Bambur, and his figure was already almost as tall as Qing Xia. Qing Xia looked at him with a warm smile and said softly: "I'm going to accompany Brother Bambur into the mountains to hunt, I'll be back tonight, you stay here and take good care of your injuries, don't wander around, got it?"

  As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly found that what he said was a bit too commanding and hastily added another sentence: "Is it okay?"

  Whether in past life or this life, Qing Xia had never been so careful with someone. Xi Lin Chen's mouth corner twitched, and he smiled comfortably, saying: "Alright, you be careful."

  Qing Xia was taken aback for a moment, and for a while, it seemed as if the person standing in front of her was Xilin Rong. She was a bit dazed, and after a flurry of wild thoughts, she followed Banbur and Nake Do into the mountains on horseback.

  Can't help but say that Xuda Lie is good at hunting, Qing Xia and the three of them were busy for a whole day, but only caught a few mountain chickens and a rabbit. Qing Xia confidently followed the two kids, only to find out that when they arrived at the location, she was simply a burden, being laughed at by the two until she couldn't take it anymore, and angrily returned home.

  That night, Qing Xia found the old hunter in the village and asked him about it for half a night. Xi Lin Chen was not seriously injured but had many minor injuries and was resting in the house. Seeing Qing Xia's red face and thick neck, he couldn't help but smile slightly. Qing Xia saw that even he dared to laugh at himself, and became even more depressed, didn't eat dinner, and went to bed early.

  The next morning, Bambur and Nakdo refused to take Qingxia again. Qingxia followed them with a deadpan expression. This situation continued for over ten days. Finally, one day, Qingxia successfully hunted a leopard, sweeping away the depression of the past few days, and proudly raised his eyebrows.

  It's been a long time since Qing Xia had such a competitive spirit after leaving the team. That night, sitting under the oil lamp, staring blankly at his wrist scratched by the leopard, he suddenly felt a little distracted, feeling like he was already old, and in a flash, it was almost two years.

  "Are you hurt?"

  A soft voice sounded behind her, Qing Xia suddenly turned around and saw Xi Lin Chen standing in front of the door, lifting the curtain inside the room, holding a porcelain bowl in his hand, and saying naturally: "May I come in?"

  For some reason, Qing Xia always felt a strange tension towards this boy who was not yet fourteen years old. It wasn't because of his older brother and sister, but rather that the child himself had an otherworldly aura about him, as if he didn't eat or drink like ordinary people. This extraordinary quality would always make Qing Xia unconsciously think of someone else. Smiling, she nodded in response, pulled out a stool, and placed it in front of herself.

  Sit.

  Xilin Chen sat down, placed the ceramic bowl on the table, naturally took Qing Xia's wrist, slightly furrowed his brow, stretched out his little finger to scoop up some of the medicinal paste from the ceramic bowl and applied it to Qing Xia's wound.

  "Ah!" Qing Xiaxi was caught off guard, only feeling a sharp pain in her hand, and let out a low cry.

  "Does it hurt a lot?" Xilin Chen slightly raised an eyebrow, lifted his head, and a pair of bright eyes sparkled like stars. He asked softly, with a dense concern on his face.

  Apart from a slight pain at the beginning, there was soon a faint coolness, Qing Xia hurriedly shook her head and smiled: "Much better, you're really skilled."

  "You won't forget what my family does, will you?" Xi Linchen said lightly, picking up a white cloth from the side and skillfully wrapping it around Qing Xia's wrist in circles, his movements smooth and natural, like those of a seasoned doctor.

  Qing Xia's heart felt a pang of sadness, and she changed the subject, saying: "You should call me sister like Ban Bul and the others."

  Xi Linchen's hands paused for a moment, his head hung down, and he slightly raised an eyebrow, glancing at Qing Xia. He didn't say anything, but the corners of his mouth curled up into a faint smile.

  "Hey!" Qing Xia called out in dissatisfaction, "What's with this attitude?"

  Xilin Chen tied the last knot, stood up, and gently patted Qing Xia's shoulder, smiling and saying, "Get a good rest, don't get wet, you'll be fine in a few days."

  Having said that, he took the medicine bowl and walked out.

  Qing Xia pouted, thinking to herself that this kid was getting more and more arrogant, not putting himself in her eyes at all. The cool sensation on her arm was indeed much better than before. After Qing Xia busied herself for a few days, she finally let out a sigh of relief, slowly climbed onto the warm fire pit, yawned, and fell asleep in a daze.

  That morning, while collecting hunting spoils with Aunt Duo Hua, Xi Linchen walked back from the neighboring Hanba's house, dragging a huge pelt in his hand. Qing Xia saw it and hurried over to take it, asking: "Where did this come from?"

  "It was Aunt Hanba who forced it on me." Xilin Chen still had the same gentle smile for everyone, with his eyes half-closed, like a warm spring.

  "Oh," Qing Xia nodded and said: "Tired, huh? Go in and take a rest."

  "No," Xilin Chen shook his head, rolled up his sleeves and sat down in the place where Qing Xia had just been sitting, facing Duoyi Huadao: "Auntie, let me help you." He said, taking a wild chicken, neatly disemboweling it and cleaning it up.

  Duoyi Flower Aunt awkwardly rubbed her hands, not saying a word, but only smiled kindly. Recently, Xi Linchen has been helping people in the village by treating their illnesses, and his reputation has quickly spread throughout the area. Qing Xia knew that Xi Linchen didn't want to freeload here, but she still didn't want him to be too exposed. Although this place is far from Nan Chu, as a special agent, she knew that if a country wanted to eliminate someone, it would be hard to escape their surveillance no matter where you hide. However, looking at Xi Linchen's increasingly spirited smile day by day, she didn't say what was on her mind. She thought to herself that even if they left this place together, with her around, she wouldn't believe that Chu Li's assassins could still find a way to get to them.

  Perhaps, in Qing Xia's heart, there was a sense of self-restraint; she believed that no matter what, Chu Li would never lay a hand on her. She also knew that this way of thinking was very dangerous and might one day bring disaster upon herself, but she still secretly believed it in her heart, unable to convince herself otherwise.

  In a comfortable environment, it's indeed easy to feel lethargic. Qing Xia smiled wryly and shook his head.

  "No, no, you'll hurt your hand like that." Aunt Duo Hua suddenly shouted, Qing Xia hurriedly looked over and saw Xi Lin Chen's knife moving nimbly on the wild chicken's body, as if dancing, with complex movements that dazzled the eyes.

  With a whoosh, Xi Linchen laughed and shook his hand, the entire skeleton of the chicken was removed, and the intact chicken meat fell into the wooden basin in one piece.

  Duo Yi Hua's aunt stared at Xi Lin Chen's hand with her eyes wide open, took a deep breath and said in disbelief: "It's really like magic, no wonder he is the brother of Jie Ma A Gu, his sister has skills and so does he, dragon begets dragon, phoenix begets phoenix, and mouse's son can dig holes."

  Qing Xia saw her metaphor and couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh.

  "Ma! Ma!" Ah Miao suddenly rushed in from outside with a group of kids, shouting loudly.

  Old Lady Duoihua sat up straight and looked at her little daughter, saying: "Amoye, what's wrong? You're in such a hurry."

  "Mom!" A year had passed, and Ah-Miao's hair had grown another head taller, with a neat braid on top, looking very delicate and lovely. She pouted her small mouth and said loudly: "I heard the old man from Xundada Temple say that Banbur and Nake Duo went to the recruitment office in the county seat to join the army, if they get recruited, they won't come back!"

  "What!" Old Aunt Duo Hua suddenly stood up, her eyes brimming with tears, and said flusteredly: "How can this be good? These two rabbit bastards, how can this be good?"

  "Auntie, don't worry." Qing Xia also stood up and knew this wasn't a joke. He hastily said: "You wait at home first, I'll go to the county to catch them back."

  Duoyi Flower Aunt looked at Qing Xia, with a hopeful light in her eyes, and said gratefully: "That Jie Ma Agu, must bring the two of them back."

  "Don't worry." Qing Xia took the large cloak that Xi Lin Chen had just handed over and wrapped it around her shoulders, saying to him: "You and Auntie stay at home, don't go out. The Mu Lian people have been restless lately, be careful."

  "Alright, got it, you go and come back early." Xilin Chen nodded and said in a low voice.

  Qing Xia got on her horse and headed towards the county, it took a while before she arrived at the county, along the way she inquired and finally reached the recruitment office. People on the road saw that she was a young girl who also came to join the army, everyone cast sideways glances. Qing Xia didn't care about the gazes of the people around her, after much difficulty she squeezed through the crowds of three layers inside and three layers outside, only to see the white large billboard with the recruitment notice for the Northern Border Camp of Thailand written on it.

  Every year when winter arrives and the year-end is approaching, it's always the most rampant time for the Xiongnu people. At this time, whether it's the Great Qin or Western Chu, they will all dispatch heavy troops to guard the borders, in order to prevent being taken advantage of by the Xiongnu people. In recent years, Western Chu has been defended by General Yan Hui, while Qin has always been defended by the war god Qin Zhiyan.

  The first requirement on the list was that it had to be a Han Chinese registered in the household, knowing that the two Bambo brothers had no hope, Qing Xia led the horse out of the crowd, but in her heart, it was like the tide, slightly surging.

  Ever since she came here, she has been trying to suppress those names deeply, not thinking about them, not asking about them, as if she really is the woman Qing Xia who drifted outside the pass, and has no connection with those two brilliant and arrogant men.

  There are many things in life that can only become a landscape, and cannot be solidified into a pattern in one's own palm. She did very well on this point, striving to blend into such a life, forgetting the 21st century, forgetting the Military Intelligence Bureau, forgetting her former comrades-in-arms, forgetting Tang Yu, her childhood sweetheart, forgetting Nan Chu, forgetting Chu Li, forgetting Qin Zhiyan, and even forgetting the name of the owner of this body.

  But there are some impressions that she can't forget, and all of this was disrupted again after the appearance of Xi Linchen.

  Actually, there were some things she had never forgotten. All she could do was force herself not to think about them, or when she did, it wouldn't be so painful. Those past memories were really not good memories for her.

  Perhaps, except for the green pines under Longshan Mountain entering the temple.

  "Jema Agu!"

  Bamboo's voice suddenly rang out, interrupting Qing Xia's thoughts. She raised her head to see Bamboo and Na Ke walking over with their heads hung low, leading the horse, looking listless and dispirited. One guess was enough to know what had happened.

  Qing Xia's face sank, and she said in a bad temper: "You two stinky boys, want to worry your mom to death?"

  The two of them knew they couldn't avoid being scolded, and didn't retort back. They simply followed Qing Xia's behind, mounted their horses, and started to trot quickly.

  "The Qin state is full of troubles, let's go to Xichuan tomorrow and join the Yan family army, we can still fight on the battlefield!" Na Ke Duo suddenly said loudly. Ban Bu Er kept giving him eye signals, but his eyes were about to cramp up, yet he didn't notice.

  Qing Xia's eyebrows furrowed, and with a sudden jerk, he reined in his warhorse. Turning around with a burst of anger, he said in a deep voice, "You two, are you still determined to join the army despite knowing it will be your death?"

  Bamboo didn't say anything, but Kedo nodded his head and said loudly: "Yes!"

  "Swish!" With a sudden movement, Qing Xia whipped out her whip and lashed it fiercely onto Ke Duo's hand.

  Na Ke let out a cry of surprise, only to see a long trail of blood on his hand, burning with pain. Bambur saw Qing Xia lose her temper for the first time and was stunned into silence, her eyes darting back and forth as she stared at Qing Xia's face.

  "This is for your mother." Qing Xia sat on the horse, coldly saying: "If you also want to learn from Xudalei's irresponsible behavior and leave without a word, then from now on, you are no longer my friend, Summer Qing."

  "Jiema Agu," Bambur said, seeing that she was really angry, and thought of saying something nice to comfort her.

  Who would have thought that Ke Duo was a straightforward person, loudly saying: "How can Xudalai be so irresponsible? He's out there building achievements and being a hero. We northerners have plenty of strength, we should let the battlefield kill the enemy!"

  Qing Xia gave him a cold look and said in a low voice, "Alright, you three brothers have gone to make your fortunes, but you've left your mother at home. Now that it's chaotic everywhere with bandits and thieves, your mother worked hard to raise you all, and now that you're successful, you don't care about her? You've left your little sister and old mother at home, waiting for the bandits to come and kill them?"

  The two were stunned, clearly not having thought of this point. Bambur lowered his head and thought for a while before raising it to say seriously: "Jema Agu, you're right, I won't join the army."

  Qing Xia coldly snorted and turned her head towards Ke Duo, asking: "What about you?"

  Nak Mu was at a loss for words, but felt that Qing Xia's words were reasonable. He thought to himself and finally gritted his teeth and said, "Then I won't go either."

  Qing Xia's anger turned into joy, and he smiled and said: "This is right, let's go back, so as not to worry your mother."

  A few people galloped quickly, and in a short while, they saw the village far away. However, the three of them simultaneously furrowed their brows tightly, seeing a long trail of black smoke rising into the sky from afar, countless people running out of the village, shouting and crying voices filling the air, Qing Xia and Ban Buluo Na Ke exchanged a glance, shouted loudly in unison, and suddenly whipped their horses to gallop wildly.