511 Thrilling! Another near miss!
Updated: 2013-12-24 15:02:14 Word Count: 8010
"Ruilin!" Luo Zhiwu was startled and quickly reached out to stop him, grabbing Luo Zhiheng's arm. Her expression changed slightly: "Where are you going?"
Luo Zhiheng looked up and quietly gazed at Luo Zhiwu. Her eyes held both sadness and questions, but in the end, she said nothing. She gently brushed Luo Zhiwu's hand away and turned to chase after Mu Yunhe.
Actually, it's not that she doesn't understand, it's just that there are some things she can't figure out. Mu Yunhe's attitude is too ruthless. He suddenly treated her like this. If it were the old her, she would have believed Mu Yunhe without hesitation. Even if Mu Yunhe wanted to kill her, she would have believed him without a doubt that he was doing it for her own good!
But today, Mu Yunhe didn't even give her the slightest hint, and even pretended not to know her. Two or three years of separation and painful torment, three years of struggling in hell without Mu Yunhe's company, her countless hopes and waits all came to nothing. Her trust in Mu Yunhe was irretrievably diminishing little by little. Her fear and anxiety, her expectations and disappointments, her torment and waiting, her lack of response, finally, little by little, consumed almost all of her full confidence in him.
She no longer dared to trust Mu Yunhe in Qingyi. If she were still the same person she once was, she wouldn't have continued to conceal her true identity after returning today. This distrust was her tragedy. She clearly still loved Mu Yunhe so deeply, yet she hesitated to move forward because of her distrust, inching forward step by step, no longer daring to stride confidently, no longer daring to rush forward without restraint, because she was no longer sure if there would still be a man waiting for her, protecting her, and indulging her, regardless of the hardships and obstacles ahead.
When deep love turns into hurt, she is powerless to turn back, unable to move forward, and can only stand still, testing each other and hurting each other in torment.
Today, Mu Yunhe has changed to the point where she won't say another word. Her confidence is unprecedentedly low, and fear and panic coexist. Mu Yunhe, you can no longer give her any sense of security today, do you even realize that?
The secret technique allowed Luo Zhiheng's damaged areas to heal at the fastest speed, but it wasn't an instant cure. Her back ached slightly from running so fast, and she could even feel the dampness on her back. She thought to herself, she really had reached the point of being frail and weak. She wondered, how much longer could this broken body live?
One year? Two years? Or ten years?
She wondered, would she have another lifetime to accompany Mu Yunhe?
Her running steps abruptly stopped, and Luo Zhiheng stood there blankly, unaware that she was covered in cold sweat. A gust of wind suddenly rose, startling her delicate skin, and she suddenly realized that her heart had been aching so much that it was numb.
"What good would it do if I caught up with him? How much longer could I stay with him?" She heard herself mutter to herself in the gentle breeze. A profound sorrow filled her.
Luo Zhiheng suddenly lost all her courage and was unwilling to continue the pursuit. She lowered her head, her gaze dim, looking at her pale, slender fingers—fingers that could be crushed with the slightest touch. Her fragility was comparable to that of a porcelain doll. Was this how he rejected her? That's why he pretended not to know her, why he tried so hard to drive her away, why he coldly and ruthlessly rebuked her…
Who would want someone who is practically useless?
Luo Zhiheng's lack of self-confidence and her lack of confidence in Mu Yunhe became the barriers that separated them for three years, and the insurmountable chasm grew wider and wider.
She gasped sharply, feeling as if her internal organs had been frozen. Luo Zhiheng gave a self-deprecating laugh, then looked up at the door, which was almost within reach, her gaze icy. Suddenly, she turned and left.
On the carriage at the door, Mu Yunhe suddenly lifted the curtain and saw Luo Zhiheng's almost desolate gaze. His heart clenched and shrank, and the pain spread to his limbs. He couldn't help but press his hand to his chest, not daring to look at Luo Zhiheng's back again. He closed his eyes tightly, but his expression was cold and utterly devoid of any emotion.
His hand, hidden in his sleeve, clenched into a fist. If it weren't for the person hiding in front of him, he really wouldn't have been able to control himself and would have rushed down.
But what can I do, Ah Heng? I really can't let you be in danger anymore. Nothing is more important than your safety. I don't want anything else. As long as you're alive, I will never give up my own life. But if you're gone, will we still have a future?
Luo Zhiwu lingered outside Luo Zhiheng's room for a long time before finally pushing the door open cautiously. She saw Luo Zhiheng lying flat on the bed, eyes open, but motionless. Luo Zhiwu's throat tightened and she softly called out, "Ruilin..."
"Why do you call me by this name?" Luo Zhiheng's voice was hoarse, filled with deep questioning and immense disappointment. Amidst Luo Zhiwu's evasive hesitation, her voice finally broke into a sob as she abruptly sat up and cried out, "Why do you call me Ruilin?!"
They clearly know her identity. Even if they don't reveal it now, there's no need to call her by that name anymore, right? Mu Yunhe calls her that, and Luo Zhiwu calls her that too. What are they calling her? They're hiding her identity and not telling her what happened. Are these two men playing charades?
"You are Ruilin, aren't you?" Luo Zhiwu calmly looked at Luo Zhiheng, knelt down in front of her, stroked her hair, and solemnly said, looking into her beautiful red eyes, "You are Ruilin, the female leader of the barbarians. In two days, you will return to your place. The Mu Dynasty is not your home!"
Luo Zhiheng gasped, her eyes widening in disbelief. She was going back to the desolate wilderness. She was a wandering soul, and it wouldn't matter where she was; she felt no sense of belonging to the Mu Dynasty. But here was Mu Yunhe, her brother, and all those friends who had shared life and death with her, who were loyal and devoted to her!
Now, her closest loved ones... want her to leave?!
"Back to the wilderness, can I never come back?" Luo Zhiheng asked hoarsely, her big eyes wide open.
Luo Zhiwu shook her head and said, "I don't know, it depends on him. But I believe he won't let you stay there forever. You have to be patient. I will go with you. I will stay with you as long as you don't come back. Even if everyone else abandons you, I will not abandon you."
Luo Zhiheng shook her head, lay down again, and asked weakly, "You can't tell me what happened, right?"
"Of course not. Would you still leave if I told you?" Luo Zhiwu thought to herself, patting her little head and saying firmly, "Nothing happened. You go to sleep. We'll set off in a couple of days."
Luo Zhiheng didn't say a word, and two days passed in a flash, with her basically spending all her time in bed. The demon was almost scared to death by her master and dared not leave her side for a moment. She thought she would have to use a lot of persuasion to get Luo Zhiheng up today, but to her surprise, Luo Zhiheng got up very early in the morning.
The demoness watched in horror as Luo Zhiheng sat before the dressing mirror, carefully combing her hair and getting dressed. She then instructed Luo Zhiheng to pack her bags; they would be setting off home today. The demoness excitedly went off to find the Bear King and the Wolf King.
The most bustling sight in the capital today was the long line of horse-drawn carts loaded with grain at the city gate. The queue stretched from one end of the city wall to the other. This grain was not all that was going to the barbarians; this was only the first batch. The second and third batches would be delivered later.
The demoness looked at the grain with excitement, the Bear King finally showed a joyful smile, and even the usually cold Wolf King had a rare slight smile. The three handsome men and beautiful women were even more eye-catching than the grain itself. But the common people felt a pang of heartache at the thought of so much grain being given to those barbarians, and their eyes gleamed with envy as they looked at the grain and the barbarians.
Luo Zhiheng walked in calmly, her whole body shining like stars. Apart from her charm and nobility, there was not a trace of sadness or loneliness about her.
"Has the grain been inspected?" Her cool voice stood out from the noisy environment, and the surrounding sounds quickly quieted down. People stared in astonishment at the woman who had been the subject of the legend that everyone in the streets and alleys knew these past two days—the woman who had exchanged her body for grain.
These past few days, a rumor has been circulating that the barbarian chieftain Ruilin, in order to obtain food, actually sold her body to Mu Yunhe, and that Mu Yunhe was also seduced, which is why he did his best to help gather food. People feel extremely contemptuous and ashamed of the barbarian chieftain's behavior, and are heartbroken that Mu Yunhe has fallen into the trap.
But aren't people also curious? It's said that this woman turned General Luo and His Excellency the High Priest, brothers-in-law, into bitter enemies. Just who is this woman? How could she cause the most devoted Mu Yunhe and the most promising young general of the Mu Dynasty to be at each other's throats, even disregarding their family ties?
She really is a femme fatale!
Ignoring the strange looks and whispers around her, Luo Zhiheng remained silent. Looking at the abundant grain, she finally felt a little relieved. She had also come to a realization in the past two days: whatever Mu Yunhe was planning, since he wouldn't tell her, it meant he didn't trust her. Why should she stay and continue to embarrass herself? She wasn't indispensable to him!
Now that she has the grain, she can leave. Mu Yunhe, don't come looking for her again!
Luo Zhiheng absolutely refused to admit that she was being willful or emotional. She told herself that she would never again be so submissive and tolerant of Mu Yunhe. Let him do whatever he wanted; she was leaving anyway. She would leave with her head held high, and she would make Mu Yunhe understand that she truly could leave gracefully!
"Master, the carriage is ready. Please get in." The demoness helped Luo Zhiheng walk to the back.
Luo Zhiheng waved her hand, slightly raised her chin, and her eyes had already caught sight of Mu Yunhe standing to the side, seemingly inspecting the grain. Seeing that he didn't even glance in her direction, Luo Zhiheng felt a pang of heartache, but smiled charmingly and said, "No need, I want to ride a horse."
The demoness was startled and instinctively retorted, "No way! Your body can't handle riding a horse, how can you possibly stand it?"
"Am I the master or are you the master? I want to ride a horse!" Luo Zhiheng glared angrily, her voice already filled with hostility.
When the demon girl saw Luo Zhiheng's fierce gaze for the first time, she was so frightened that she froze on the spot.
Seeing Luo Zhiheng's willful behavior and lack of regard for her own health, the Wolf King angrily said, "What nonsense are you spouting! Get in the carriage and sit down."
Luo Zhiheng instinctively wanted to retort, but out of the corner of her eye, she caught Mu Yunhe's profile stiffen instantly. The veins on his beautiful neck throbbed twice, making Luo Zhiheng's heart skip a beat. She bit her lip, feigning anger, and said, "I don't want to! It's so stuffy sitting in the carriage the whole way! Riding a horse is much more enjoyable for such a long journey. Wolf King, please let me ride a horse, okay?"
Even the sweetest female voice couldn't compare to the woman's innate sweetness and charm. Her coquettish voice was neither vulgar nor repulsive; its clean and refreshing allure was invigorating, making one's bones melt. Everyone couldn't help but sigh, "Truly a femme fatale! Just listen to that voice; no man could resist her allure. No wonder the High Priest and the young general are both at her feet."
Others might find it amazing, but the Wolf King and the Bear King Demoness were horrified. When had this woman ever spoken like that? It was absolutely terrifying.
However, the Wolf King harbored mixed feelings towards Luo Zhiheng. Her obvious display of affection softened his hardened heart instantly, a feeling he himself found inexplicable. Yet, his beautiful eyes softened, their tenderness shattering into starlight as they enveloped the petite Luo Zhiheng. His tone, a mixture of helplessness and tentative indulgence, asked, "Riding a horse by yourself is too dangerous. If I say you can't ride, will you still insist?"
Luo Zhiheng seemed to think about it carefully for a moment, then suddenly giggled and said, "It's fine if you don't let me ride the horse by myself, but why don't you take me with you? That way you can protect me. You are the number one warrior in our wilderness, your protection will be safer than anyone else's!"
Luo Zhiheng laughed heartily, watching Mu Yunhe's stiff body. She felt a surge of anger, but this was quickly followed by exhaustion and an emptiness in her heart. Even in this state, Mu Yunhe hadn't uttered a single word; it seemed he truly intended to let her leave. Thinking this, she felt utterly helpless.
She finally came back, only to be driven away by him again.
The wolf king was pleasantly surprised by Luo Zhiheng's attitude and walked to her side to confirm, "You really want me to ride a horse with you?"
The Wolf King stared intently at Luo Zhiheng. The instant she uttered those words, his heart pounded violently, so fast and fierce that he almost feared he might die unconsciously. His heart was overflowing with joy; he tried to control it, but a strange smile crept onto his lips. He couldn't control his gaze; he knew that at this moment, his eyes were filled only with this woman.
Even though he had never seen the woman's face behind the mask, he thought he had fallen in love with her! So much so that a single word from her could bring him heavenly happiness and satisfaction.
"Of course, my warrior, would you allow me to ride your horse?" Luo Zhiheng was somewhat reckless, her voice becoming even gentler and her attitude increasingly ambiguous.
The Wolf King was indeed outstanding. He was tall and strong, and his imposing stature did not give people the impression of being a clumsy big guy. His beautiful and delicate face was full of charm because of his cold temperament. This man was usually serious and unsmiling, but at this moment, the corners of his icy mouth turned up. It was as if a snow lotus from the Tianshan Mountains had suddenly appeared. In that instant, all flowers dimmed and all things lost their light!
Luo Zhiheng was even somewhat stunned by the Wolf King's smile for a moment. She blinked and exclaimed in her heart, "The Wolf King can actually smile?!"
The ancient iceberg has actually blossomed!
When the Wolf King saw Luo Zhiheng staring at him blankly, his handsome smile remained, but in his heart, he was filled with a mixture of pride and delight. He had never been so proud of his appearance, but this time, the fact that Luo Zhiheng was momentarily stunned by his face made the Wolf King exceptionally happy and proud.
He smiled and said, "I would never dare to disobey the leader's trust in me."
The Wolf King was beaming at Luo Zhiheng, who was still somewhat dazed, when a sinister voice suddenly pierced through the air between them like a sword from hell, forcefully cutting in. It sounded casual, but was actually vicious and malicious: "The journey is long and fraught with danger. If you really ride a horse, be careful your bones will be shaken to pieces. Chief, you should think it over carefully. Riding a horse isn't suitable for women; be careful your fair skin doesn't get tanned."
Luo Zhiheng snapped back to reality at those words, her fierce gaze fixed on the speaker. She saw Mu Yunhe standing not far ahead, hands clasped behind his back, seemingly looking at them with disdain. Luo Zhiheng thought, if the look in Mu Yunhe's eyes were any clearer, she would have called it furious rage!
Despicable man!
Luo Zhiheng roared and cursed inwardly. "Didn't you say you didn't care about her? Didn't you want to drive her away? Didn't you pretend not to see her? Then what are you doing now? This pretentious, infuriatingly pathetic bastard, I just want to kick him into a gutter!"
Luo Zhiheng cursed inwardly, but her eyes still stung with tears. Mu Yunhe finally reacted, and she finally breathed a sigh of relief. She didn't know what had happened between them. How could she have lost all trust in Mu Yunhe? They used to trust each other so firmly, but today, she had actually resorted to testing and provocation to determine Mu Yunhe's feelings for her.
Is there anything more tragic than this?
Can't you pretend? Do you think she won't? No matter why you, Mu Yunhe, want to drive her away, her grievances and sadness can't just be left unaddressed. She can leave decisively to fulfill your, Mu Yunhe's, goals, but don't expect to succeed so easily and happily. Hurting her heart always comes at a price.
And what could be more reliable than making Mu Yunhe feel the most pain than letting him see that you no longer care about him?
Luo Zhiheng coldly withdrew her gaze, the look that had lingered on Mu Yunhe so cold that Mu Yunhe couldn't find a trace of warmth, and it was as fleeting as a passing breeze. Mu Yunhe's expression changed slightly, and his eyes gradually blazed with fire.
Luo Zhiheng giggled and said to the wolf king, "Let's go, I can't wait to ride home."
She instinctively reached for the wolf king's hand, trying to get him to quickly put her on the horse and infuriate Mu Yunhe. But the moment her hand touched the wolf king's, Mu Yunhe's eyes turned completely red. To be precise, from the moment Luo Zhiheng's hand reached for the wolf king, Mu Yunhe was consumed by rage!
The Wolf King smiled and took her hand, seemingly unconcerned about the piercing gaze directed at him. He calmly led Luo Zhiheng forward, responding to Mu Yunhe's earlier words: "No need for Your Excellency to trouble yourself. I will take good care of Chief Ruilin, and I will do my utmost. Besides, how could I bear to see Ruilin suffer even the slightest harm?"
Mu Yunhe's narrow eyes suddenly narrowed and his pupils contracted. In the instant they were almost face to face, Luo Zhiheng could even feel the intense, mutually repelling aura between the two men, and even the tense aura emanating from Mu Yunhe. The confrontation between the two men became suddenly apparent at that moment.
Luo Zhiheng was almost sandwiched between the two men. She narrowed her eyes and subconsciously leaned towards the Wolf King.
Mu Yunhe's anger suddenly intensified, but when Luo Zhiheng looked at him, it vanished just as suddenly. Instead, he adopted a nonchalant expression, as if he really didn't care about Luo Zhiheng at all. He smiled with a hint of contempt and sarcasm and said to the Wolf King, "So you're just like that Luo Zhiwu, both of you like to pick up what others have already played with?"
Luo Zhiheng's face beneath the mask turned deathly pale, and her wide eyes revealed a mixture of anger and embarrassment.
Mu Yunhe saw her gaze, but glanced at it indifferently, without showing any pity or heartache. He looked at Luo Zhiheng's side with an elegant smile, exuding an imposing and superior aura.
The Wolf King's face remained calm, but his eyes burned with disdain and anger. He said coldly, "Even if you are a priest, you cannot slander the chief of the wilderness like this! The chief and you are completely innocent, so how can you say you're 'leftovers'? Besides, even if you were 'leftovers,' it would only be you, whom our chief has 'leftovers'. I'm afraid you don't know this, but the chiefs of the wilderness, regardless of gender, have always been allowed to have multiple wives and concubines! Our chief also has countless male lovers. Although they may not be as handsome as you, they are all the best of their kind. You shouldn't overestimate yourself. The chief truly has no shortage of men."
This time, it was Mu Yunhe's turn to turn pale!
Three wives and four concubines? Countless male lovers? Never lacking men?!
Is this what Luo Zhiheng's life was like during those three years in the wilderness?! Mu Yunhe was irrational for a moment, overwhelmed by the Wolf King's description of Luo Zhiheng's possible three years filled with romantic entanglements, resentment, heartache, inner turmoil, and panic. Ultimately, he refused to believe it!
"Impossible! There's no such custom in the wilderness!" Mu Yunhe didn't even know where he found the voice; it was hoarse and agitated. Although he was calm, it sounded like he was gritting his teeth.
Luo Zhiheng was actually quite shocked by the powerful image of the 'Queen's Harem' described by the Wolf King. She also wanted to know, when did she suddenly have countless handsome men as her male concubines? Wasn't that strange?
The Wolf King secretly tightened his grip on Luo Zhiheng's hand, seeing through Mu Yunhe's outward bravado but inner weakness. He said unhurriedly, "You're not from the Wilderness, how would you know about its customs and traditions? The Wilderness you know isn't the real Wilderness. In the Wilderness, men are kings, and women are queens. Since a queen is a queen, she naturally has a harem just like a king, and isn't the harem filled with countless men? Is Your Excellency so ignorant?"
There must be some secret between Luo Zhiheng and Mu Yunhe! Otherwise, Mu Yunhe wouldn't be so nervous and angry. The Wolf King, having made his own calculations, instantly understood why his leader, who had always been cold and indifferent to him, had suddenly become so affectionate and clingy. Had he been used as a shield?
I could only manage a wry smile. Disappointment was inevitable, but deep down I still had some hope. Who says a substitute can't become real one day?
Mu Yunhe's expression changed repeatedly. He lowered his head abruptly, his back stiff, remaining silent for a long while before raising his head again. Under Luo Zhiheng's gaze, he coldly smiled and said, "No wonder your leader can attract so many women everywhere. So there's a reason for it. How unwilling you are! I thought she would be heartbroken for me, but it turns out she has quite the luck with women. I'm just one of her countless romantic encounters. I understand now. It makes me feel even more relieved to get rid of you. No, I can't say you're leaving now. Get out, get out of the Mu Dynasty immediately!"
Luo Zhiheng coldly watched Mu Yunhe's expression change. Her anger was so intense that she wanted to beat him up. "You actually believed that?! You even dared to tell her to get lost, you bastard!"
Luo Zhiheng stepped forward, stood in front of Mu Yunhe, raised her chin, and said fiercely, "You don't need to drive me away, I will leave on my own. Even if someone begs me to come back to this place, I will never return! No matter what their reasons are, they cannot let me have even the slightest attachment to this place! Mu Yunhe, I remember that, but from today onwards, I will forget you, completely forget you!"
Mu Yunhe just watched and listened coldly, seemingly indifferent, even with a faint smile on his lips, appearing nonchalant. But no one could know how much pain and suffering he was enduring. Seeing his Aheng speak with such hatred in his eyes, hearing every word Aheng uttered, felt like knives were stabbing his heart and liver, causing him excruciating pain that tore his internal organs apart.
Luo Zhiheng seemed to have no lingering feelings at all. She bumped into his ribs and chest, and brushed past him once again, just like the day she returned, when she helplessly brushed past him, feeling both unfamiliar and heartbreaking!
Mu Yunhe lowered his head slightly, enduring the pain of Luo Zhiheng leaving him, the unbearable heartache and suffocation. Who could see that in his heart, tears of reluctance had gathered into a sea...