Chapter 90

  It had only been a short while, less than half the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. Suddenly, the sound of horseshoes echoed from up ahead, and Qing Xia cautiously reined in his horse, just as Xue Da came galloping towards him like a whirlwind.

  "Xia Qing! Are you alright?" Seeing Xia Qing, Xue Da Lie's eyes lit up and he rushed forward on horseback.

  The little girl in his arms wrinkled her pretty eyebrows and said with a pout, "Big brother, it was me who got caught, you only know how to ask Jiemaya Agu, don't you know how to ask Anmoye?"

  Xu Da let out a hearty laugh, took Amu Ye from Qing Xia's arms and said: "It's alright now, your mom is still at home waiting for you, she's worried sick. You two go back first, I'll be right there."

  Qing Xia said: "Are you going to look for trouble with Mu Gu Die and them?"

  Xuda's eyebrows shot up, and he said in a cold voice: "How dare they take advantage of my absence to lay hands on my brother's family? How can I let them off?"

  "Never mind," Qing Xia pulled on his reins and said in a low voice: "Don't go."

  "Jiema Agu has taught them a lesson." Amu Ye, who was quick with words, exclaimed excitedly: "Jiema Agu cut off Mugua's hands!"

  Xu Da's eyebrows raised slightly as he looked at Qing Xia with a skeptical expression, saying: "Is what Ah Miao said really true?"

  "En." Qing Xia responded faintly, unwilling to talk more, "Let's head back first, we can talk while walking."

  Xu Da Lie didn't know Qing Xia's true abilities. When they first met, Qing Xia was with a group of horse thieves and there wasn't an opportunity to take action. He had already felt that Qing Xia wasn't an ordinary Han woman, but she didn't want to talk about it, so he didn't ask further. After a short while, the few of them returned to the village, where Du Yi Hua stood at the entrance, crying loudly as soon as she saw them, and hugged Ah Miao Ye tightly, refusing to let go.

  Qing Xia had been busy for most of the day, and after giving a few instructions, he returned to his tent on the snowy plain. As soon as he stepped onto the snow, he saw someone standing in front of his tent, wearing a green robe with a tall stature, looking very carefree, intently examining the red flag hanging from Qing Xia's tent. Qing Xia's heart skipped a beat, and he was overjoyed, hesitantly saying in a soft voice: "Yang Fen?"

  As the newcomer heard the sound, he turned his head around. His face was clear and handsome, with a short beard on his chin, looking like 27 or 28 years old, but it was a completely unfamiliar face.

  "Is this Miss Qing Xia?"

  A magnetic voice slowly rose, but Qing Xia's heart sank to the bottom in an instant. She looked at the man's handsome face, nodded politely, "I am, I don't know who you are? How did you know my name and how did you know to find me here?"

  "I've been entrusted by a young master to come to Guanwai and find a Miss Xia Qing, to bring her a message."

  Qing Xia furrowed her brow and said anxiously, "Who entrusted you? What's his name? What does he look like? How old is he? What message did he pass on? Is he injured?"

  The young man smiled faintly and said in a low voice, "Miss, don't worry, he's fine, not hurt, just looks a bit tired. The young master didn't leave his name, handsome, about twenty years old, asked me to tell you that he has something to do now, Miss will wait for him outside the pass, more than a year or two, less than three to five months, and will definitely come back to meet with Miss."

  "Is anything wrong?" Qing Xia's eyebrows slightly furrowed. She said softly: "Did he say what was wrong?"

  The man slightly shook his head and smiled, saying: "No."

  "Oh," Qing Xia nodded, a hint of disappointment and sourness rising in her heart, but she quickly thought again, it's good that this can prove Yang Feng is not dead, nor has he been caught, after all, it's one good thing. After thinking for a moment, she asked: "When did he entrust you with this? Are you friends? Approximately what time was it?"

  The man replied: "I am a guard of # Xiacheng Baima Escort Agency, and I received this job yesterday morning."

  "# Xia Cheng?" Qing Xia's eyebrows furrowed instantly, what was going on that Yang Feng had already gone to the northernmost city of Thailand and didn't even have time to meet her.

  "Miss, I've said what I needed to say, I'll take my leave now."

  "Thank you very much, sir."

  The man slid down the snowy slope and rode away on horseback. Qing Xia let out a soft sigh, unable to understand what was going on. It seemed that for now, she had no choice but to continue staying here and wait for Yang Feng's return.

  Before you know it, more than ten days have passed and tomorrow is New Year's Eve.

  It seems that no matter how history evolves, the Chinese people's custom of celebrating the New Year cannot be changed.

  In the morning, Bambur and Nakdu came running together to ask Qing Xia to go to their house for dinner that night, and Qing Xia readily agreed.

  Since the last incident, Duihua's family has been even more polite to Qingxia, almost every day they send food over or invite her to their home for dinner. Under Amu's promotion, Qingxia instantly became a legendary martial arts master, and Bambur and Nakduo kept asking her to teach them martial arts. Unable to withstand the pestering, Qingxia taught them some free combat moves, and after several days, the two kids made rapid progress, but were repeatedly defeated when fighting with other local children.

  It's just that Akuta Retsu is quite strange, from the day he came back, he has been going into the mountains every day. Qing Xia tried to persuade him several times, but he didn't listen, and there was no way to stop him. So they had to send a message to the Western Black Horse Bandits on Mount Hantan, asking them to pay attention to Akuta Retsu's movements.

  In the late afternoon, Qing Xia was sitting at the door weaving a double-heart knot, one of her few hobbies. In modern times, whenever she had some free time, she would weave all sorts of Chinese knots. A comrade-in-arms from the military intelligence agency knew over ten different methods for weaving Chinese knots and could weave with both hands in a way that was truly magical, reportedly the result of practicing for over thirty years. But Qing Xia had mastered her skills in just two short months, and it was considered a legendary feat within the agency.

  "Xia Qing!" Xudalei's voice suddenly rang out, Xia Qing raised her head to see Xudalei riding a horse, galloping wildly towards the snowy plain. In just a moment, he arrived at the foot of the snow slope. He jumped down from the horse with agility and ran up quickly, holding in his hand a small thing that was still struggling and jumping about. Xia Qing took a closer look and found it was a white fox with a pure white body.

  "Xia Qing, I'm giving it to you!"

  Xu Da Lie's smile was like the warm sunshine of early spring, his pearly white teeth sparkling with dazzling light under the sun. Qing Xia looked at the small white fox that was struggling non-stop and felt her scalp tingling, hastily saying: "Who told you to catch it, quickly let it go."

  "Why let it go? I've dug up dozens of fox dens and finally found this one that's all white. You seem to like it, so I'll give it to you."

  "Who told you I like this?" Qing Xia frowned and asked.

  "Alright, no more talking, let's go, I'll take you somewhere." Putting the fox in a rabbit cage, Xudalai grabbed Qingxia's hand and said loudly, "Hurry up! If we're late, it'll be too late!"

  Qīng Xià hastily put down the things in his hand, almost stumbling under Akira's pull, and shouted loudly: "Where are you going? Akira, wait!"

  The endless snowfield is a vast expanse of pure white, with the sky and earth almost merged together, everywhere is a holy white.

  Standing here, I feel as if I'm the only person left in the world. The wilderness is like this, vast and empty, with no signs of human life. The air is so fresh that it makes me want to rip my lungs out of my chest and breathe directly. Qing Xia rides his horse, gazing at the endless snowy plains, taking deep breaths, and suddenly feels that all the worldly chaos, wars, bloodshed, and slaughter are far away from him, and the entire world has fallen silent.

  A few white clouds swept across the sky, the setting sun was like blood, the evening glow was like fire, and the sunset sank to the west. The vast snowy plain was dotted with a faint blush of rouge, as if it had been kissed by a woman's crimson lips. Between the clouds, bursts of colorful splendor shot out, like schools of fish swimming in the ocean, cooling down the golden waves. The entire sky was a vast expanse of shimmering light, with purple and red hues, and a kaleidoscope of colors stretching for miles.

  Qing Xia's mouth curved into a smile, and the anxiety and insecurity that had been hidden in her heart for so long all dissipated at this moment. She slowly turned her head to look at Xuan Da Lie, who was riding alongside her, and smiled as she said: "Xuan Da Lie, thank you for bringing me here, I'm really happy."

  Xuda Lie's smile was radiant, perhaps due to the ruggedness of being outside the vast border, making Xuda Lie's smile always so pure.

  The people here are all straightforward and clear-cut, without so many intrigues and calculations. There is no such thing as mutual suspicion and defense between people. This is something that Qing Xia has never experienced in either her past or present life. Having seen the darkness of too many people's hearts, she suddenly came to this place and felt a sense of peace in her heart, like a distant mountain and clear water. In the midst of it all, she even had the thought of wanting to stay here forever.

  Perhaps, I really don't have much ambition.

  Qing Xia's mouth corners slightly rose, but what she had been asking for was just a quiet living space.

  No war, no bloodshed, no treacherous hearts, and no deep love or hatred.

  "Qing Xia!" Xuda Lie suddenly fixed his gaze on Qing Xia and said.

  "Huh?" Qing Xia slightly raised an eyebrow and tilted her brow: "What?"

  "This, I give to you." Xudalei suddenly pulled out a small wooden box from the sleeve of his robe, wrapped layer by layer in a silk handkerchief. Qingxia couldn't help but feel a thread of curiosity, wondering what could be so precious. To know that in this place, a piece of silk handkerchief was more valuable than a whole piece of leather.

  "What's with me?" Qing Xia pointed at her own face and asked.

  "Right,"

  One layer after another, the silk cloth was opened to reveal a box made of cedar wood. Qing Xia solemnly lifted the lid, and inside, a snow-white flower lay quietly, its petals crystal clear and emitting a faint, delicate fragrance that was uniquely elegant. Qing Xia's heart skipped a beat as she suddenly felt something was off, but her smile remained on her face as she said, "Xiao Da Lie, thank you, I really like it."

  On the snow-white snowy field, the fresh wind is blowing gently. On the fiery sky, there are free white horses flapping their wings.

  Xu Da's eyes were burning with an inexplicable intensity as he stared tightly at Qing Xia, and suddenly said: "Qing Xia, I like you, and I don't want you to live such a lonely life anymore. You're not saying that you like my home? Like my younger brother and sister, like the hand-pulled noodles made by my mother? Then marry me, let me take care of you. From now on, my younger brother and sister will be your younger brother and sister, my mother will be your mother, I will treat you well for a lifetime, won't bully you, and make you happy for a lifetime."

  Although mentally prepared, Qing Xia was still stunned and didn't know what to say.

  Xu Da Lie saw Qing Xiang not speaking, suddenly rode over, pulled Qing Xia's hand and said softly: "I see you, I know you've suffered a lot. Although the interior is prosperous, life is not free, can't hunt, can't herd horses, and war fires are frequent year after year. Why don't you stay? We'll herd horses outside the pass together, go up the mountain to hunt, isn't that good?"

  Qing Xia looked at Xue Da Lie's young and handsome face, and suddenly a warm and gentle feeling rose in her heart. She slowly grasped Xue Da Lie's large hand and said softly: "Xue Da Lie, Qing Xia likes this kind of life, and also likes to live freely and happily with you all outside the pass. But I always thought that you were just my good friend, we could drink together, hunt together, ride horses together. If in the past I did something that made you misunderstand, or didn't notice your hints, causing you to have these thoughts today, then Qing Xia apologizes to you. However, the current me really doesn't want to get entangled in these things, and hopes you can understand me."

  Xu Da Lie was taken aback, seemingly not expecting Qing Xia to refuse him so decisively. He lowered his head and thought for a moment before asking: "You're refusing me, is it because of the person you've been waiting for?"

  "No," Qīng Xià firmly shook her head, "he is my older brother."

  "Xia Qing, don't lie to me. Your surname is Xia and his surname is Yang. How can he be your biological brother? I just want to know why you're so certain in refusing me. Is it because there's something wrong with me?"

  Qing Xia pursed her lips and said sincerely: "Xu Da Lie, you're a great person, you should find a better woman to love you well, not me."

  "Xia Qing, I think you are better than any other woman. I don't like those arrogant women from the north or those artificial Han women from the east of the pass. You have a kind heart and are also beautiful, if you agree to marry me, even if all countries offer me their princesses, I won't give them a glance."

  Qing Xia was at a loss for words when he saw Xudaluo, and for a moment, he was speechless.

  Xu Da Lie looked at Qing Xia's silent and downcast appearance, let out a deep sigh, and suddenly asked: "Qing Xia, the person you're waiting for, what does he do?"

  "Xia Zhāng, he indeed is not my elder brother. He is the one who saved my life, for me, gave up his own fame and fortune, and almost lost his life, until now it's still uncertain whether he will live or die. You northerners are all men of your word, can I betray such a person?"

  Xuda Lie was taken aback and thought for a moment before asking in confusion: "Is he a general?"

  "En," Qing Xia nodded and said: "Yes."

  Xudalai nodded and suddenly smiled: "You're right, Xiaqing. This man is a hero. I won't force you anymore."

  Qing Xia smiled and patted Xuda Lie's shoulder, saying: "That's right, we're still good friends."

  "Alright," Xuda Lie pulled the reins, exchanged a smile with Qing Xia, and then galloped towards the village. After drinking some wine in the evening, Qing Xia was sent back to her home's tent by Xuda Lie in a daze.

  The next morning, before she even opened her eyes, a sudden horseshoe sound shattered Qing Xia's sleep. She rubbed her sleepy eyes and saw Bambur and Nakdu brothers pulling open the curtain of the tent, shouting at Qing Xia: "Jema Agu, Xunda Lie has left!"

  "What?" Qing Xia's sleepiness vanished instantly, and she opened her eyes wide to ask: "Gone? Where did he go?"

  "When I got up in the morning, he was gone, and none of his belongings were taken away. There wasn't even a note left behind, only this."

  Bamboo handed over a piece of paper, Qing Xia took it and suddenly felt dizzy, hastily put on her clothes, rushed out of the tent, and said to the two people: "You wait, I'll go catch him."