When love draws near, it's like snow

Chapter 80

"Huaiyuan~~~~! Huaiyuan~~~~~!"

So far away, with the wind so strong, my voice drifted away on the wind. I never expected him to hear me, but he did. Through my teary eyes, I saw him turn his horse around, like a red lightning bolt, and appear beside me in an instant. I laughed and cried at the same time, staring at him dumbfounded.

"Fool! Why did you run out without even wearing shoes?!" Huaiyuan sighed deeply, jumped down, pulled my clothes back together that had been blown open by the wind, and then hugged me.

"Why didn't you wake me up?" I scolded him through my tears.

"I don't want to make you cry," Huaiyuan said softly, his hand naturally reaching behind me to tie my hair into a braid. "Okay, let's go back now."

"Huaiyuan, I love you." My heart was filled with intense anxiety. "So, you must come back safely." — I shouldn't have made that joke last night! I'm so afraid of really losing him!

"Silly girl, I love you too." Huaiyuan sighed softly, then lowered his head and kissed my lips.

"I don't want to marry someone else!" I cried, then suddenly looked up at him: "But, didn't you just say 'I love you'? Right? I didn't hear you wrong, did I? You never said that! You can't go back on your word, I definitely heard you!"

“Yes, I love you.” Huaiyuan chuckled. “You heard me right, I will come back, I promise! So you don’t need to marry anyone else. Go back.”

"Hey! Are you two ever going to stop? I can't take it anymore!" Wu Feng roared, his face ashen. "If this drags on any longer, it'll be dawn!"

My face turned bright red. Oh, I forgot there was no wind!

Finally, the two of them on two horses disappeared from my sight, leaving only a vast snowfield. But I stood barefoot on the snow, facing the cold wind, and didn't feel cold at all—Huaiyuan, he said he loved me!

[Volume 4 Finale: Chapter 24 Blood Stained the Yellow Sand]

The situation has been chaotic these past few days. We've heard that a large number of Jin troops have entered Zhuxian Town a few days ago. We've heard they've burned down houses, killed every man they see, and looted a great deal of gold, silver, and women… Everyone lives in constant fear, wondering if the Jin army will come here. Changzhuang is only five or six li from Zhuxian Town; it only takes about an incense stick's time to get there on horseback. The shadow of war hangs over everyone's heart.

I dared not send pigeons again—if the Jurchens discovered us, the consequences would be unimaginable. Apart from a few frail men like Zhang Bing, the village was entirely populated by women and children. Fortunately, we had stored enough food beforehand, so we didn't need to go out. We stayed hidden at home every day, cautiously avoiding being discovered, like thieves.

I suffered from insomnia almost every night, and dared not part with the Heartless Decree—even though I knew perfectly well that if the Jurchens really attacked, this small dagger would be completely useless. But carrying it around felt like Huaiyuan was protecting me, giving me a sense of security. People are really strange; something cold can often warm someone instantly because of a certain person.

Just as dawn was breaking, I heard a noise outside the window. I'm a light sleeper, and since I heard the Jurchens came, I'm even more easily startled. Hearing the noise, I was first startled, then delighted—it must be Huaiyuan again! He always likes to climb in through the window when he comes back. I smiled, happily opened the window, and pouted, complaining, "Didn't I tell you not to come back? Why didn't you listen?"

Outside the window, apart from the falling snowflakes and sparse raindrops, there was no one in sight. I froze. Then, I heard the neighing of a horse outside the courtyard—it was Zhu Ri's call—why wasn't Huai Yuan coming in?

I opened the door and rushed out. Outside the courtyard wall, only the sunflower was pacing anxiously, crying out incessantly. The liquid flowing down its body, indistinguishable between sweat and blood, dripped onto the snow like plum blossoms, their colors blurred by the rain, a striking crimson.

"Zhu Ri, where's Huai Yuan?!" My breath caught in my throat, and a corner of my heart suddenly collapsed—Huai Yuan loved it so much, almost treating it like a second me, there was no way it would let it run away, unless...?

Startled by this sudden thought, I felt dizzy and my heart ached so much I could barely stand—no, it can't be! It's not what I think; if I haven't seen it with my own eyes, it can't be true! Huaiyuan promised me he would come back; he would never lie to me!

"Zhu Ri, take me to Huai Yuan!" I gritted my teeth, leaped onto my horse, and, braving the raging wind and blizzard, frantically drove Zhu Ri towards the vast snowfield—yes, I had to find him; he must be injured. He's somewhere waiting for me to rescue him!

"Sister Qingyang, danger! Come back!" Xiuyu's cries were left far behind me—at this moment, no one, no force could stop me from moving forward, not even death!

Daylight broke quickly. The silhouette of the sun was so beautiful and enchanting, galloping across the vast snowfield like a wildfire burning the earth, or like lightning ripping through the sky, so captivating.

Gradually, Jin soldiers discovered my trail and began shouting as they chased after me. At first, it was just one or two spots, but slowly they connected into lines and then into patches. After passing through several undulating mountains, I realized with despair that I had been forced into an encirclement, and that this encirclement was shrinking at an alarming rate.

I know perfectly well that I haven't been killed by the hail of arrows yet thanks to Zhu Ri's handsome figure. The Jurchens are fierce and warlike, but they also love fine horses, especially divine steeds like Zhu Ri that can travel a thousand miles a day. They are one in a million, and they would never be willing to harm it—moreover, I am riding this horse unarmed, with my long hair flowing and my clothes fluttering, clearly a lone woman posing no threat whatsoever.

Thanks to several months of living at Bailingchuan Ranch, my horsemanship is now vastly different from what it was a year ago. I lowered my body, held Zhu Ri tightly, and squeezed the horse's belly with my legs, urging it forward relentlessly—I was gambling: gambling that Zhu Ri's speed might allow us to break through before they completed their encirclement! —As long as they didn't fire arrows, it wasn't impossible!

However, my plan was quickly discovered, and some of the pursuers behind me began to lose their patience and shoot arrows at me—ironically, in their eyes, Zhu Ri's life was clearly far more important than mine! Zhu Ri nimbly dodged the arrows, leaping high and crouching low. But this only enraged the Jin soldiers, drawing even more arrows like a rain of fire. Finally, an arrow whistled through the air from behind, piercing my left shoulder. I cried out in pain, my vision blurred, and I staggered, falling from my horse—the shaman had finally avenged Huai Yuan's arrow wound!

Almost immediately, two tall Jin soldiers rode up and caught up with me. They quickly approached me, dismounted, and tried to grab me. Then, more Jin soldiers surged forward, as if countless hands were reaching for me. Their twisted faces were filled with excited smiles, and their ferocious laughter pierced my eardrums like the hooting of an owl.

I know I look disheveled. The wind has blown my long hair into disarray, making it dance like countless black snakes in the wind. Blood gushing from my left shoulder flows down my arm onto my white dress, which is already soaked with snow, rain, and sweat, splashing onto the ground where I stand, quickly staining it into a huge plum blossom pattern.

Huaiyuan, where are you?! — Waves of immense pain washed over me, and I finally collapsed, plunging into endless darkness…

It hurt so much, as if someone was burning me with flames, or as if I were being immersed in an ice cellar, alternating between hot and cold, like a thousand ants crawling into my heart. I groaned in agony, struggling to escape that hellish torment, waving my hands, trying to drive away the countless ghostly hands that wanted to grab me—but my flailing hands were held tightly—this warm touch, this reassuring strength, was it Huaiyuan? He's back? He's alright?

I awoke with a start, my eyes snapping open—only to be met with Zong Wang's anxious yet gentle dark eyes—I closed them again. Yes, I was trapped in enemy territory. Why him? Why?!

"Qingyang? You're finally awake!" Zongwang, oblivious to my disappointment, gazed at me tenderly.

"Let me go, I'm going to find Huaiyuan." I looked directly at him, my voice soft but resolute.

"He actually made you do such a dangerous thing! He didn't protect you properly! He actually let you get so badly injured! What right does he have to have you?" In Zong Wang's narrowed dark eyes, a flame flickered.

"Who created this danger? Who caused this harm?" I sneered at him. "Compared to him, you, as the instigator, have even less right to judge!"

"No, your injuries haven't healed yet." Zong Wang looked away, his voice cold, and shook his head in refusal.

I remained silent, threw off the covers, and struggled to get out of bed—Huaiyuan was in a dangerous situation, I could sense it, something must have happened to him, I couldn't just stay here and do nothing!

"Qingyang!" Zongwang glared at me.

"Brother, please let me go. I would be very grateful to you." I gazed at him, pleading with tears in my eyes.

"You..." Seeing my determination, he sighed and came over to support me: "I'll go with you. Where are you going?"

"I...I don't know." I shook my head blankly.

"Don't know?" Zong Wang laughed angrily. "You know nothing and yet you ran off to the war zone all by yourself?! Qingyang, when will you change your reckless nature?!"

"Zhu Ri ran back on his own. Something must have happened to Huai Yuan!" I cried out in alarm, tears welling up in my eyes. "I have no choice. I have to find him. Even if I have to turn Bianjing upside down, I will find him. Brother, you have to help me. I know you can do it. You have to help me!"

"Sigh! I must have owed you something in my past life," Zongwang murmured helplessly, reaching out to wipe my face from the tears—I instinctively dodged his hand. His hand hung awkwardly in the air, and he glared at me angrily.

"I'm sorry," I said apologetically, looking at him. "I'm married, brother."

"Liu Yanzong!" Zong Wang, his face ashen, suddenly turned and shouted, "Go and find out where the battle took place three days ago!!"

"Three days? I've been unconscious for three days?" I jumped up and rushed outside: "Damn it! What about Huaiyuan? Military Advisor Liu, wait for me, I'll go with you!"

“Three days have already passed, a little more won’t make a difference. If Huaiyuan had been in trouble, he would have already…” Zongwang grabbed my wrist and coldly mocked, “It’s no use worrying now. All we can do now is try our best and leave the rest to fate.”