Qu Yunmie raised his brows, then opened his mouth to speak, and Xiao Rong, seeing his expression, immediately felt a headache. He hurriedly stopped him. “All right, all right, I know you can do it, but what use is it that you alone can do it? You could already climb up by yourself, but those who cannot climb also cannot throw it up. Besides, the noise from throwing it isn’t small, and if the rope snapped midway…. Ai, in short, the disadvantages outweigh the advantages. It would be better to let the soldiers go up barehanded.”

Jian Qiao was a capable man. He said that in the whole army they could at most find four or five such men. In the end they really only found five. Jian Qiao found a smooth, straight tree and told them to try climbing it. The five of them shot up like monkeys, shua, shua, shua.

The city wall was harder to climb than a tree, but with such skill, climbing up wouldn’t be a problem.

Five people, plus Qu Yunmie made six. Even though Xiao Rong had his cheat device, he still couldn’t feel the slightest bit of peace of mind, but he wouldn’t tell Qu Yunmie what he thought. He only tilted his head, looked at the copper basin on the ground for a while, and saw his own blurry reflection in it. After a moment, he suddenly lifted his head and said to Qu Yunmie, “I brought the Chilong Sword.”

A question mark appeared in Qu Yunmie’s eyes. He didn’t understand why Xiao Rong mentioned this. He wasn’t going to give the Chilong Sword to him, and besides, no one used a thin sword on the battlefield.

…

Luckily Xiao Rong didn’t know what Qu Yunmie was thinking. Otherwise, even squatting, he would have kicked him. He only blinked his eyes and, for the first time, regarded Qu Yunmie as the commander of an army, asking him, “Tell me, can I go into battle to kill the enemy?”

Qu Yunmie: “…”

The question stunned Qu Yunmie. He carefully looked into Xiao Rong’s eyes, found he wasn’t joking, and only after a long while did he make a sound. “You are a scholar, a staff officer, a strategist. A strategist doesn’t need to kill enemies.”

Xiao Rong said, “Chancellor Gao was also a scholar, your father’s staff officer, your father’s, your elder brother’s, and your own strategist, yet even he personally led troops, let alone going into battle to kill enemies.”

Qu Yunmie said, “You aren’t the same as him.”

Xiao Rong hugged his legs. Suddenly he let go, stood up, and said, “Not the same in what way? That I’m not as brave as Chancellor Gao, or that I’m not as healthy as him?”

Qu Yunmie: “…”

Life really was full of pitfalls.

He quietly watched Xiao Rong, sweat forming on his back. At last, after difficulty, he found an answer that wouldn’t make Xiao Rong angry. “It’s not you. It’s I who am not as ruthless as my father. I wouldn’t let my own strategist fall into danger.”

Feeling this was very well said, Qu Yunmie silently gave himself a thumbs up. Yet Xiao Rong looked at him and coldly said, “Fair words with a deceitful tongue.”

Qu Yunmie: “…”

He fell silent for a moment, then asked Xiao Rong, “Do you really want to go into battle yourself?”

Xiao Rong crossed his arms. Qu Yunmie thought he wouldn’t answer, but then heard him stiffly say, “I do not.”

He could feel himself being assimilated step by step by this era. He saw the process clearly but didn’t resist it. After all, whether he wanted it or not, from the day he came here, he had already become part of this time. Being able to blend in was better than being forever rejected.

Still, a man couldn’t completely abandon his origins. The influence of the past eighteen and a half years was everywhere in Xiao Rong. He would have many thoughts, but whether those thoughts were truly his heart, that would only be known after he acted upon them.

Qu Yunmie put down his weapon. The Snow-Drinking Vengeance Spear was placed on the ground with a dull clang. Qu Yunmie stood up and looked at Xiao Rong’s somewhat sullen profile and asked him again, “Then why did you ask me whether you could go into battle to kill the enemy?”

Xiao Rong glanced at him, not very happy, and answered, “Because I didn’t want to be too far from you.”

Hearing this, Qu Yunmie suddenly pressed his lips together, but he couldn’t help letting out a laugh from his throat.

Xiao Rong asked, “What are you laughing at?”

What was so funny?!

Seeing Xiao Rong’s annoyed expression, Qu Yunmie almost laughed again, but this time he forced himself to hold it back. He made his face serious and then said, “In the past, the one who always had this thought was me. Now you and I have switched places, and I—”

He was still pondering how to phrase the rest, when Xiao Rong laughed. “You feel the wheel of fortune has turned, and I finally taste it as well.”

Qu Yunmie: “…”

Although Xiao Rong’s words weren’t far from what Qu Yunmie thought, he still wanted to set the record straight. “I also feel uncomfortable here.”

Xiao Rong watched him point at his own chest with his finger.

Qu Yunmie said, “Of course, the feeling of being worried about, being cared for, is good, but if I also worry and care for that person at the same time, then the feeling isn’t so pleasant. Now no one wants to end this war more than I do. Ah Rong, I promise you, in the first six days I won’t leave your sight. As long as you look ahead, you will see where I am. On the seventh day, I will surely return victorious. I will cut off the heads of the Xianbei general and that Rouran man, and bring them back to you, so you can vent your anger.”

Xiao Rong: “…”

What did he want two heads for?

Blinking, Xiao Rong suddenly asked, “What about the Xianbei Emperor? Where do you plan to take his head?”

To sacrifice to his parents? Then take those two along too, good things come in threes.

…

Yet Qu Yunmie shook his head. “I don’t plan to kill the Xianbei emperor.”

Xiao Rong blinked slowly, then his eyes suddenly widened.

You didn’t spare the young emperor of the Central Plains, but when it comes to the Xianbei, you plan to let him go?!

Killing or not killing him wasn’t so important, since the Xianbei were already finished. Even if this emperor lived, his fate was still house arrest. Xiao Rong was very puzzled. “I remember you kept saying you would kill the Xianbei emperor. Why did you change your mind now? What do you want to do?”

Qu Yunmie smiled at Xiao Rong. “I will tell you later.”

Xiao Rong: “…”

Rather mysterious.

Xiao Rong looked to the side, not knowing what he was thinking. Qu Yunmie waited and, seeing his expression, couldn’t help but ask, “Ah Rong, do you still trust me?”

Xiao Rong’s jaw moved slightly. He half turned his head, slowly lifted his eyelids, and said, “If you return safely, then I will trust you. If you don’t return—”

Qu Yunmie took it upon himself to finish the second half, “You won’t let me go even as a ghost.”

Xiao Rong looked at him, but then strangely smiled. Under Qu Yunmie’s confused gaze, Xiao Rong slightly shook his head.

He said, “No. Now I also understand some truths. If someone wants to harm you, that isn’t your fault. I don’t need to cling to you even after death. If you don’t return, then the bond between you and me in this life is severed. From the moment my heart stops beating, all that passes between us will vanish into smoke. Why should I still bother with you? If you truly don’t return, then I will bless your next life with peace and smoothness, free from war. As for me, you needn’t worry, because in your next life, I won’t be there.”

Qu Yunmie’s expression changed, and though Xiao Rong knew he was angry, he still finished. “I’m not threatening you, but it’s the truth. If the next life really exists, I will beg everyone I can beg, Gods or men, only so that I won’t know you again.”

Qu Yunmie stared at him. After a long moment, he pulled up the corner of his mouth and smiled. “Impressive. When it comes to wounding with words, no one in this world is your match.”

Then he laughed again. “No, perhaps when it comes to wounding with words, someone can surpass you. But when it comes to wounding me with words, you are second to none.”

Xiao Rong looked at him with the same expression. No matter what Qu Yunmie said, he remained unmoved.

Qu Yunmie lowered his gaze. After two breaths, he spoke again to Xiao Rong. “The bond in this life I want, and the bond in the next life I also want. Whether we are entangled isn’t for you alone to decide. Before heaven and earth, you and I are the same. Whoever you can pray to, I can pray to as well. Guess who will win between you and me in stubbornness?”

Having said this, he picked up the Snow-Drinking Vengeance Spear from the ground, and finally smiled once more at Xiao Rong. “I don’t wish to contend with you, but in this matter I will win. Whether it is a cursed bond or a good bond, since it is my bond, no one can take it from my hands. Even you cannot. Do you think the Northern Army is a place where one can come and go as they please?

“Seven days from now, the gates of Shengle City will open. Mister Xiao, I hope at sunrise I will see your figure in Shengle City. Remember, don’t be late.”

After that, Qu Yunmie turned and left. His steps weren’t the same as usual, but somewhat heavier. Clearly, he was far less calm inside than he appeared.

Xiao Rong watched his back as he left. Only after he had walked away for quite a while did Xiao Rong finally speak to the empty royal command tent. “I will go.”

As long as you give me this chance.

 

Edited by: Antiope

 

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