Жениться на государственном служащем династии Северная Сун

Глава 90

Junyu could tell from his voice that it was no longer as frantic as when he was chasing him, and that he had clearly come to his senses.

Zhenmutier remained unfazed: "I saw long ago that you were ambitious and unwilling to be subordinate to anyone. Your failure to rescue the Second Prince and your appearance in a place where you shouldn't have made you a complete rebel. But..."

"But you still didn't have time to guard against me, did you? Before, with my father and brothers as hostages, you had nothing to worry about. But after my father died, you became wary of me and withdrew all the elite troops from my army. Fortunately, I made preparations in secret, and this army today was all built by myself. Great Khan, you have shown me kindness, but I have also repaid you by risking my life for you over the years. Today, I will neither kill you nor save you!"

"Very well, Zhu Yu, you are indeed a talented individual, and you have rendered great service to my Crimson Gold Clan. My great defeat today is not really your fault, and there is no need to pin the blame on you! Now, I have only one request: I hope you will spare my daughter..."

"Although your daughter is crude and fierce, killing her is useless. Besides, without her, my status in the Crimson Gold Clan wouldn't have risen so rapidly. I won't kill her, don't worry!"

Zhenmutier seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, then glanced at the composed owner of the large sword behind Junyu. Though the swordsman's face was calm, the killing intent in his eyes was unmistakable. Zhenmutier then laughed: "Flying General of Fengcheng, you've gone to great lengths to hunt me down, but you too will surely perish under the blade of a traitor to your homeland! Haha, with the Flying General of Fengcheng accompanying me on the road to the Yellow Springs, this Khan has not suffered any injustice!"

Junyu smiled and nodded: "In that case, you can set off in peace!"

With a forceful "Chase Fly", a gushing stream of blood immediately spurted from Zhenmutier's throat.

Zhu Yu's broadsword remained held against Jun Yu's back as he coldly said, "Great Khan, look carefully. The one who killed you is 'Phoenix City Flying General,' the invincible woman..."

"A woman?" Zhenmutier's venomous gaze shifted to Junyu's face. He couldn't catch his breath, and his venomous gaze quickly turned to Zhu Yu. Before he could close his eyelids, he collapsed straight down.

Zhu Yu glanced at his unseeing eyes and said calmly, "I came here to see Zhenmutier and Fengcheng Feishuai perish in the desert with my own eyes. Now, the two biggest obstacles to my ambitions have finally been completely eliminated, and I can rest assured!"

※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※

The twilight sky was a vibrant blue, as if washed clean. Junyu gazed at the undulating sand dunes ahead, their shapes shifting and changing, a breathtaking and indescribable beauty. A gentle breeze swept by, and the chilling killing intent emanating from behind seeped into his very bones; the sharp blade seemed poised to pierce his blue robe and penetrate his heart.

The world was cold and deathly silent.

For the first time, Junyu felt a strong and real killing intent emanating from this clear-headed and rational man. A strange sense of peace suddenly settled over her. She calmly said, "Zhu Yu, go ahead and do it."

There was no sound behind him. The large sword trembled, and Junyu felt a chill on his back. He slowly closed his eyes.

After a long while, the chill on her back suddenly disappeared. Junyu turned around abruptly, but Zhu Yu's broadsword was hanging to the ground. He didn't even glance at her, as if there was no one in his eyes at all. He turned and strode forward.

***************************************************************************

Chapter 330: Severing Emotions and Love 2

She said loudly, "Zhu Yu, thank you."

Zhu Yu had already mounted his horse, and a mocking laugh rang out: "Are you thanking me for not killing you?"

Seeing that Junyu remained silent, he simply reined in his horse and turned around: "Junyu, you are truly hypocritical! With your skills, how could you let the person who killed you come and hold a knife to your back? Even if a knife were held to your throat, they might not be able to kill you, so why are you thanking me for not killing you?"

He laughed. "You simply don't believe I'd really kill you, do you?!"

Junyu paused for a moment before nodding: "Yes, you won't kill me, you will never kill me!"

Zhu Yu glanced quickly at the wound on her left shoulder and laughed loudly, "I'm truly honored that you trust me so much! But you're really wrong this time! I didn't kill you not because I gave up this excellent opportunity, but simply because I didn't need to kill you myself! In this vast desert, you have no food, no water, and don't know the way. You'll soon end up like Zhenmutier. If you kill Zhenmutier, Heaven will kill you. Why do I need to lift a finger? However, I should thank you for eliminating Zhenmutier, the biggest obstacle to my future, hahaha."

Seeing him about to ride away again, Junyu stepped forward and called out loudly, "Zhu Yu!"

Zhu Yu reined in his horse, turned around, and looked directly into her eyes. He saw her lips, which were already chapped from rushing around without drinking water, and the long, dried blood clot on her left shoulder where he had slashed her, now sticking to her clothes. After a long while, he calmly said, "Junyu, this cut is what you owe me. From now on, our grudges are settled, and we will have nothing to do with each other!"

Junyu paused for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Zhu Yu, do you know the way?"

Zhu Yu was stunned for a moment, and it seemed that it took him a while to understand what he meant. He couldn't help but burst into laughter: "Junyu, are you begging me? You don't know the way and there is no water. Are you afraid that you will die of thirst in this 'Sea of Death'?"

Junyu looked at him without saying a word.

Zhu Yu glanced at the water pouch, now more precious than any treasure in the world, then at Jun Yu: "Where has the heroic spirit of General Fengcheng, who faced death without fear, gone? That's right, now that the war is over, you can retire gracefully. Of course, you're eager to leave this desert and be with Tuosang, aren't you? Two hearts as one, no one else to compare, even the immortals envy nothing more than this, right? Tuosang is omnipotent, Tuosang is perfect like a god. And now this perfect, godlike man is desperately searching for you, isn't he? So you're afraid of dying? So you hope that I, a man who is inferior to Tuosang in every way, can save your life?"

Junyu watched as his calm gaze gradually turned crimson again, almost as frantic as when he was chasing and attacking her. She shook her head and remained silent.

Zhu Yu stared intently at her, unblinking: "You've begged me twice! Once to rescue Mr. Zhu, and once to save Sister Shu! But you've never begged me for yourself. This time, are you begging me for yourself or because you want to live to see Tuosang?"

Junyu remained silent.

At this moment, Zhu Yu felt an unprecedented joy and boundless pleasure: "Haha! Even though you are the unparalleled Flying General of Fengcheng, not all men are as loyal as Tuosang! I'm rushing back to marry the daughter of the Little Hui King, and all sorts of beauties sent by other tribes. A kingdom, a court full of beauties—everything a man can have, I'll have as soon as I leave this desert! Junyu, you're starving and thirsty. In this land of death, even the perfect Tuosang might not be able to save you! Haha, the feeling of missing Tuosang dying of thirst and hunger will be etched into my memory even as a ghost! Enjoy yourself. I'll take my leave!"

Having said that, he never looked at her again nor turned back, and spurred his horse, picked up his water bag, and galloped away.

The bloodstains quickly congealed on the sand. Man and horse were dead; silence fell over the world.

As Junyu watched Zhu Yu's figure recede into the distance, she turned away and saw three blood-soaked corpses before her! She sighed, then used her longsword to bury the powerful ruler and his two most loyal guards in the sand.

She stood up and saw a guard's food bag on the ground. She bent down to pick it up; inside were only two hard, iron-like flatbreads. Although she was already very hungry, she knew that eating these would only make her thirstier. In this desert, thirst was far more terrifying than hunger!

She tucked the two flatbreads into her bosom, and when she looked up again, Zhu Yu and his horse were still within her sight, but for some reason they had stopped and were standing motionless. Zhu Yu's mount was an Akhal-Teke horse from the desert. These horses were native to the desert and had a lot of experience traveling in the desert, so they should be able to tell directions. Zhu Yu's stopping was clearly not because he was lost.

Junyu looked again at the deep hoofprints extending into the sand ahead. Although she had completely lost her way, she was not in a hurry to follow the hoofprints. Instead, she slowly sat down and closed her eyes to rest without moving.

After a long while, when he opened his eyes again, the man and horse had finally started moving forward again, slowly becoming a tiny black dot, and soon completely disappearing from his sight. Junyu remained seated and closed his eyes again.

***************************************************************************

Chapter 331: Men and Women in the Desert (Part 1)

After a long while, when he opened his eyes again, the man and horse had finally started moving forward again, slowly becoming a tiny black dot, and soon completely disappearing from his sight. Junyu remained seated and closed his eyes again.

It wasn't until the moon had climbed into the sky and a gust of wind had completely obscured the long, winding hoofprints that Junyu stood up to examine the direction more closely.

At this moment, looking around, the undulating sand sea had already changed patterns, and the whole world was bustling with activity, with no longer any sense of east, west, south, or north.

She recalled Zhu Yu's profound and genuine murderous intent, his resolute eagerness to escape, and muttered to herself, "If I can't find my way out and Tuosang can't find me, then it's fate that's to destroy me. So be it, Zhu Yu, since we're on different paths, why should I walk the same road as you?"

The night wind began to rustle the sand, and gradually, the "graves" of Zhenmutier and his two guards piled higher and higher! And buried with this once mighty ruler who swept across the grasslands and dozens of western city-states was very likely the equally famous "Flying General of Phoenix City"!

※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※

Night had completely enveloped this boundless desert.

The big black horse let out a long neigh. It had been unbearably thirsty for the past two days, and seeing that its master seemed to be finally about to set off, it was finally a little happier. When Junyu saw that it had finally neighed, he smiled and patted its head: "Sigh, you've been working hard too. I'll walk by myself first, so you won't be even more tired and thirsty carrying someone."

Far away, a bright moon hung in the sky, and there was not a sound of any living creature in the world. Not even one of the most resilient reptiles in the desert could be seen.

Junyu looked at the cold moonlight, and heard Tuosang's smile and soft words in her ears: "Junyu, after the war is over, let's go sightseeing..."

She couldn't help but smile, looking at the distant sky. Now that the war was basically over, Tuosang must be searching for her desperately.

"Tuosang, you're looking for me now, aren't you? Don't worry, I will definitely get out of this desert alive."

The surroundings were so quiet, with only her own mutterings flowing in the dry air, which, when heard faintly, sounded completely different from her own voice.

During the summer days, the desert temperature is terrifyingly high. If one were to run without water, no matter how skilled one was, they would likely die of dehydration within two or three days. Junyu knew the desert was vast, and now that she was out of food and water, she could only travel at night to conserve her strength and minimize water consumption. Although she was highly skilled, the wound on her left shoulder inflicted by Zhu Yu, which would normally be insignificant, was now a serious problem in this harsh environment. She estimated she could only hold on for a few more days. However, she knew that Tuosang and Mr. Nongying would definitely come looking for her. If she could hold on until then or find water, that would be wonderful.

Under the vast night sky, Junyu looked around, silently recalling the direction she had come from. After standing there for a while, she finally chose a direction, took the reins of her horse, and set off.

The sand and stones beneath my feet had turned icy cold. Every step left a deep footprint, but when the wind blew, the footprints vanished instantly, leaving only a vast expanse of desolation.

They traveled until dawn, and surprisingly, they saw no birds or beasts along the way; the only things in the world were wind and sand. Only then did Junyu fully understand the origin of this deathly place. As the sun rose, the temperature quickly increased, and Junyu hurriedly led his horse to find a slightly shady sand dune to hide on.

The black horse was extremely thirsty, frantically pawing at the sand with its front hooves, but the sand it dug out was all dry. Junyu sighed, picked up her sword, and dug deep into the sand it had dug, until finally, the sand she unearthed was cool. She quickly buried half of the black horse's body in the cool sand, and then buried herself in it as well.

She dug up some more of the deeper, slightly cooler sand and put it in her mouth. Then she looked at the black horse, patted it, and gestured for it to lie down in the slightly cooler sand, which would be more comfortable.

The black horse was quite intelligent and also very hot, so it obediently lay down. Junyu scooped up some damp sand and sprinkled it on its head. She spat out the sand in her mouth, then took some more in her mouth, and spat it out again, just to make a show of it. Then she took some damp sand and put it near the black horse's mouth, but was afraid it would swallow it.

While hesitating, the horse suddenly opened its mouth and took some sand in, but after a while it spat it out.

This black horse is so clever! Even in this situation, Junyu couldn't help but feel happy. He patted its head and whispered, "Have you become smarter from spending so much time with Tuosang?"

The man and his horse were half-buried in the sand, waiting for dusk to fall. Time suddenly slowed to an unbearable degree, each moment a cruel torment. Junyu tried to rest with her eyes closed for a long time, but she was afraid that a sudden gust of wind would bury her in the sand, so she dared not truly fall asleep. She closed her eyes and opened them again, sometimes looking at the black horse, sometimes at the distance, her mind filled with uncertainty. But the thought that Tuosang must be searching for her desperately calmed her down, and she closed her eyes again, quietly waiting for dusk to arrive.

World

***************************************************************************

Chapter 332: Men and Women in the Desert (Part 2)

As soon as Zhenmutier fled, the surrounded army was even more routed, and under the vigorous pursuit of the elite northwestern troops, which were in high spirits, the entire army was basically wiped out.

Tuosang seized the opportunity to wipe out the fleeing rebels on the other side and happily rushed back, only to find Junyu nowhere to be seen. The soldiers were clearing the battlefield, and Tuosang was practically standing on horseback looking around, but he still couldn't find Junyu.

He felt a little anxious and quickly looked at the nearest soldier: "Where is Marshal Jun?"

The soldiers, still basking in the joy of victory, shouted excitedly, "Marshal Jun has gone after Zhenmutier. Marshal Jun will surely kill him..."

Tuosang was anxious and didn't bother to answer him. He immediately spurred his horse and chased after the soldier in the direction he had pointed. However, there was no trace of Junyu anywhere along the way.

Along the way were scattered elite troops who had been left far behind from the beginning. These few men, having fallen behind early, had escaped Zhu Yu's pursuit and thus survived. However, because they were so far behind, they had completely lost track of Jun Yu.

"Marshal Jun has gone in pursuit of Zhenmuter..."

"Marshal Jun's horse is fast; we've all been left behind..."

"Now, we've also lost our way..."

Seeing that he couldn't get any information, Tuosang didn't waste any more time and immediately spurred his horse and hurried on. Along the way, there were many corpses of Northwest Army and Crimson Gold Clan soldiers. Judging from their bloody and gruesome state, they had all experienced extremely brutal fighting, and a considerable number of them were riddled with arrows. He pulled out a few arrows and examined them closely; they were all arrows commonly used by the Crimson Gold Clan army.

They had reached the edge of the desert. Junyu had ventured deep into the desert to pursue Zhenmutier! Several hundred elite cavalrymen stood at the edge of the desert, which was now completely deserted.

A rider galloped up: "Young Master Jun, Zhu Yu's army has been spotted on the grasslands ahead, heading towards the outer grasslands!"

Tuosang glanced in the direction of the grassland and felt relieved: "Since Zhu Yu has gone towards the grassland, Junyu should be safe as long as he only fights Zhenmutier, right?"

He glanced in the direction of the desert again, about to give chase, when another rider on horseback came galloping up behind him: "Young Master Jun, we've found out that Zhu Yu has personally led about 2,000 troops to pursue Marshal Jun and Zhenmutier..."

Tuosang's heart sank. He immediately jumped off his horse, grabbed a handful of sand, and examined it closely. Behind him, another sound of hooves rang out; it was the approaching Young Master Nongying, Lu Ling, Geng Ke, and the others.

"gentlemen!"

"Still no news from Junyu?"

Tuosang nodded.

Mr. Nongying looked in the direction of the desert. He knew Junyu's abilities, but now Junyu, Zhu Yu, and Zhenmutier were nowhere to be found. It wasn't the most frightening thing that the three of them were fighting desperately, but that they might get lost in the desert, which would be too dangerous.

Tuosang steadied himself and immediately said, "Bring enough water and food, and go deep into the desert to search."

A guard immediately replied, "The caravan will be here soon."

On the way there, Tuosang had already given orders to immediately find a caravan with a large reward. It was hard to imagine finding people in this largest desert without camels leading the way.

Mr. Nongying immediately said, "Tuosang, let's split up and search. Send a signal when we find it."

Tuosang nodded, and the two of them each led 500 elite soldiers and began to march into the vast desert.

Three days have passed.