The news had arrived just before noon, and Qu Yunmie and the others set out at noon.

Qu Yunmie led his twelve thousand cavalry first, while the infantry ran to keep up. From Tongguan to the Hanzhong Basin, the distance was nearly a 500 km. If both sides gave their all, there would be a two- to three-day difference. This was already the human limit, any faster and it would cost lives.

No one dared defy Qu Yunmie at this time, even if his demands were extreme. Xiao Rong also discarded most of his baggage. Buddha Son would take those items back to the Chenliu King mansion. Xiao Rong only wore thick riding armor and carried a sword. The guards carried his small bag, which contained only necessary paper and pens, he did not even bring a change of clothes.

Traveling light was like this. Even a little extra weight could slow down the entire army.

Without any greetings or instructions, once everyone was assembled, Qu Yunmie mounted his horse. Xiao Rong also climbed onto a reddish-brown steed. It was different from his usual horse, which was carefully chosen for him—well-tempered and obedient. This horse had a bad temperament but was very fast.

Qu Yunmie watched Dongfang Jin count the troops. At one point, he glanced at Xiao Rong. Today, Xiao Rong no longer looked like a ball, his body lines were clearly visible. He wore no gauntlets or hat, just a shiny black fur cloak. The north wind blew fiercely, sending the cloak fluttering behind him. Xiao Rong lifted his eyelids and caught Qu Yunmie looking at him.

Xiao Rong thought he was going to say something, but after a moment, Qu Yunmie turned his head back.

Xiao Rong lowered his gaze slightly. Just exposed to the air for a moment, he felt the skin on his hands tighten. The youthful, delicate surface was now covered with fine white lines, and the blue veins became increasingly visible.

He was a southerner, but now he had the hands of a northerner.

…

Before he could think further, after hearing Dongfang Jin’s report, Qu Yunmie shouted to move out. Xiao Rong immediately raised his head, shook the reins along with the other tens of thousands of soldiers, and shouted: “Go!”

*

A good horse could travel a 500km in a day. Ancient people judged whether a horse was excellent by whether it could travel 400 km in a day. But whether this was true was hard to verify, no one would actually make a horse run nonstop for 24 hours just to see. Even if it finished, it would probably be exhausted or injured.

So this statement was more like an adjective. For a person to ride 400km in a day, at least three horse changes were necessary. That was just for one person, with more people, the speed would surely drop.

The more people, the slower the march. Qu Yunmie’s troops were among the fastest of the time. When Emperor Guangjia fled, his southward migration took a full six months. Why? Because the emperor could not endure continuous marching. As long as the area was relatively safe, he would stop and rest. His ministers dared not stop him, so they constantly urged him day and night, eventually forcing him to move again.

Without the Xianbei pursuing, he could have taken three straight years.

It seemed absurd. How could the Xianbei not catch up in six months? But they never did because the situation was complex, and people risked their lives to protect the last emperor of the Yong dynasty. Those people were truly fearless.

…

This was something Qu Yunmie did not have. He had always protected others, acting as a rear guard for his soldiers and civilians. Few people were as fanatically devoted to protecting him. Well, some of the Northern Army would, but that was about it.

This reflected Qu Yunmie’s mindset. From his heart, he did not care whether the civilians recognized him or whether officials flattered him. Even if his guards betrayed him and chose Li Xiuheng, he was not particularly angry. He would just kill him, then it was over.

He knew his character was not likable, so he never demanded that everyone like him.

But he could not accept it when those he thought cared for him and were loyal suddenly showed coldness.

How could one describe that feeling? It was like a ragged child living next to a candy house. The house was large, sweet-smelling, and full of laughter. The child felt fine because he had a few candies of his own. He counted them every day, and as long as none were missing, he felt secure.

But now, one candy fell. He rushed to pick it up, only to find the wrapper broken and the candy eaten by worms.

Sadness, anger, disbelief—of course they existed. But there was another feeling he dared not speak of. He looked at the remaining candies and feared they would suffer the same fate.

Especially the largest, most beautiful candy in his hand—the one he stared at for happiness each day—his most important possession, his most precious treasure—would it…

Qu Yunmie sat on his galloping horse, the wind in his ears drowning out all other sounds. He ran at the front. Before him lay only wilderness. No one else was around. Normally, this scene filled him with exhilaration, but today he frequently looked back. No matter when he did, Xiao Rong pursed his lips, held the reins, and stayed right behind him.

Xiao Rong was right, he really could keep up.

Xiao Rong focused all his energy to avoid being left behind. He did not dare move unnecessarily. The horse ran too fast. Any wrong movement could throw him off, being trampled was minor compared to his secret being discovered.

A strong horse needed no whip, it followed the lead horse automatically. Xiao Rong had held the same posture for a long time, his back stiff. He sensed Qu Yunmie looking at him and turned his gaze.

At roughly the same speed, Qu Yunmie’s face was recognizable. Xiao Rong clearly saw his expression: complex, almost doubtful.

Xiao Rong was startled.

So much time had passed. The days he had scolded Qu Yunmie felt like a previous life. What had he called Qu Yunmie before?

Right: stubborn, obstinate, sensitive, suspicious, valuing war over culture, violent, bloodthirsty.

Some traits Qu Yunmie had changed, some he pretended to have changed, others he buried deep.

Xiao Rong watched Qu Yunmie, who, after a glance, turned his head back. On this gallop, there was no time for extra thoughts.

…

From noon to midnight, Qu Yunmie only allowed one stop. After eating dry rations and handling physiological needs, they resumed after half an incense stick of time.

Sleep? Not possible.

They rode all day and night without rest. Xiao Rong said nothing. He had promised not to slow Qu Yunmie, so whatever Qu Yunmie did, he would quietly follow.

Once mounted again, Xiao Rong realized one thing: This was the true Northern King.

The same Northern King who had been both criticized and praised by countless people in history.

Because Xiao Rong had shielded him from part of the danger, Qu Yunmie always appeared composed before him. Sometimes Xiao Rong wondered where the rumors of his harshness toward subordinates came from. Qu Yunmie was actually generous. He gave military merit, wealth, and positions as deserved. Though he liked to scold people, compared to withholding rations, scolding was trivial.

Now Xiao Rong understood the source of the rumors.

But he said nothing. After all, this time, there was cause. One or two instances could be tolerated.

Thus, a march that normally took ten days was compressed into one and a half by Qu Yunmie. Around midnight the next day, they reached the Hanzhong Basin. They were about to continue toward Hanzhong County when two riders appeared, carrying torches.

“Your Majesty, stop!!!”

The riders called from a distance: “Your Majesty, Northern Army, stop! Chancellor Gao and the troops are stationed at West Shahu Slope!”

Qu Yunmie tightened the reins, listened carefully twice, then signaled backward.

The guards relayed the order to stop, and slowly, over ten thousand troops halted.

*

Gao Xunzhi and his group had also arrived after nightfall, about two hours ahead of Qu Yunmie.

Hanzhong County was under Shen Yangrui’s control. Gao Xunzhi’s scouts had gathered more information. Shen Yangrui was not in Hanzhong, they were stationed at Zitong. Yuan Baifu was there, along with the seventy thousand soldiers he had taken.

Gao Xunzhi did not want to alert the enemy. Also, he had too few troops, rushing to Hanzhong’s gates might get them trapped.

He ordered a camp. Just as things calmed slightly, he heard his scouts return, shouting that the King had arrived.

Gao Xunzhi paused.

He had nearly broken his old bones on the journey, yet Qu Yunmie had arrived nearly simultaneously. Fear surged in him. If Qu Yunmie had arrived first, the consequences would have been terrible.

Gao Xunzhi quickly got up and hurried outside. From afar, he saw the silver-glinting Snow-Drinking Vengeance Spear. Qu Yunmie stood before the camp, speaking with the generals who had arrived first.

Seeing Gao Xunzhi, those present stepped aside.

Gao Xunzhi asked anxiously: “Your Majesty arrived too fast! Surely you have not stopped along the way. Even if you endure, you must consider whether the soldiers can—”

Halfway, he froze. He rubbed his eyes and then shouted: “Little Rong?!”

Xiao Rong held a torch—not because he liked it, but because it gave him warmth.

Gao Xunzhi pulled Qu Yunmie aside, stepped to Xiao Rong, and asked in shock: “Why did you come? I told you to return to Chenliu!”

Xiao Rong replied: “Song Shuo is stationed in Chenliu. There is no rush to return. I wanted to come with Your Majesty to handle the traitor in the army.”

Gao Xunzhi remained silent.

Xiao Rong’s words sounded light, as if Yuan Baifu did not matter at all. Gao Xunzhi did not know how to respond, and he also feared provoking Qu Yunmie’s sensitive nerves. He wanted to change the subject, but as he thought, he suddenly realized something.

Gao Xunzhi closed his mouth and suddenly stared at Xiao Rong. With an extremely strange and incredulous look, he examined Xiao Rong from head to toe. He asked him: “How did you get here?”

Xiao Rong said nothing.

It seemed like it was not the first time he had been asked this.

He could not understand why people always asked obvious questions.

“I rode a fast horse.”

Gao Xunzhi’s expression became even more exaggerated. He raised his hand, pointing at Xiao Rong’s body: “You… you rode all the way like this?!”

Xiao Rong opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, Gao Xunzhi had already moved. He touched Xiao Rong’s cold face and his ears, which had turned red from the cold. When he held Xiao Rong’s hands, the concern on his face almost overflowed.

He scolded: “This is absurd!!!”

“You… what can I say about you? Enough! Someone! Quickly bring some hot water! You rely on your youth, but now you have frostbite, injuries to your core—just wait until you feel it!”

After saying this, Gao Xunzhi pushed Xiao Rong toward a soldier, and the soldier led him away.

Gao Xunzhi watched Xiao Rong walk away, looking back every few steps. Only after he bent into a military tent did Gao Xunzhi’s expression instantly darken. He turned slowly.

He did not say anything, he just glanced at Qu Yunmie and then walked back to his own tent.

Qu Yunmie’s face hardened, but he still followed him.

…

Before going to sleep, Gao Xunzhi had lit a brazier, so the tent was relatively warm. Qu Yunmie still wore full armor. When the heat reached his face, he even felt like his whole body was burning. Every pore competed for the heat. This warmth made him uncomfortable, much like Gao Xunzhi’s gaze.

Gao Xunzhi did not mince words and directly asked: “What happened?”

Qu Yunmie frowned. “What do you mean, what happened?”

Seeing him play dumb, Gao Xunzhi became even angrier. “Watching Xiao Rong once again not take care of his own body, you had no reaction?”

Qu Yunmie said: “What reaction should I have? Everyone’s the same on a march.”

Gao Xunzhi was stunned for a moment by this tone. Then he raised his voice a little: “But this is Xiao Rong!”

The Xiao Rong who was most different to you!

Yet Qu Yunmie’s attitude was nothing like Gao Xunzhi expected. Hearing Gao Xunzhi speak as if it were obvious, he suddenly erupted: “So what if it’s Xiao Rong! I don’t think he deserves special treatment, so why should I rush to give it? You come and accuse me—why don’t you think about what he might have done!”

Gao Xunzhi froze. After a while, he asked: “Then what did Xiao Rong do?”

Hearing this question, Qu Yunmie suddenly fell silent.

The charcoal burned silently, the lava-like flames disappeared here and slowly appeared there. At the same time, Qu Yunmie gave a muffled reply: “He knelt to me.”

“When everyone else was kneeling and begging me, he also knelt.”

…

This was not Shengle. Outside Shengle, the camps were huge, as they stationed four hundred thousand soldiers. Here there were only over thirty thousand, and at the start, only twenty thousand. So the tents were relatively close.

Xiao Rong sat in one of the tents soaking his feet. The soldier said it was warm water, but Xiao Rong felt it was almost scalding. As he slowly adapted to the temperature, he heard voices from not far away.

The sentences with his name were louder, so they came through very clearly.

Xiao Rong propped himself up on the bed and looked at the soldier.

The soldier gave him an awkward but polite smile.

Xiao Rong said nothing.

He indicated he could manage himself, and the soldier, relieved, immediately turned and left.

Holding a cloth roughly like sandpaper, Xiao Rong lowered his head and stepped in the water as if playing.

He wanted to cry.

Those two words were Xiao Rong’s true feelings, and he said them in an extremely indifferent tone. Too much had happened in the past few days, and a person could only bear so much. Wanting to cry was normal, not wanting to cry would be abnormal.

Wang Xinyong had died. He had thought that fate had already changed but realized it had returned to the beginning. Within the limits of what he foresaw, he was rigidly cautious. He had been thinking whether Yuan Baifu would affect Qu Yunmie, so after Yuan Baifu left, Xiao Rong naturally relaxed his vigilance. Indeed, Qu Yunmie was his responsibility and target, but other people were also living beings.

That was why he wanted to cry. He felt so guilty. It had nothing to do with Qu Yunmie, nothing to do with what he had said, nothing to do with any misunderstanding with Qu Yunmie.

Gradually, the water cooled. When Xiao Rong tried to lift his legs, he realized they felt like someone else’s. He could hardly move them. He frowned and tried to lift them but barely managed a tiny bit.

Xiao Rong thought about sleeping like this, but if he did, he might become disabled by morning.

…

Shaking his head, Xiao Rong struggled to lift his feet, dried them, then called the soldier to bring another basin of water. He washed his face and hands, looked at his clothes covered in dirt, and decided not to change—he would sleep like this.

It was already the second watch of the night. Even night owls would feel sleepy, let alone Xiao Rong, who had gone nearly two days and nights without sleep.

He blew out the lamp and walked to the bed like an old man nearing his end. He flopped straight onto the bed and slept almost as if dead.

A quarter of an hour later, a tall shadow entered.

He did not know Xiao Rong had already heard what he said. Honestly, after speaking, he also regretted it a little. Why was there so much in the world that he had to process? He did not like this. He did not like becoming complicated, unclear even to himself. He had always been honest—love was love, hate was hate. How could such distinct things mix together?

Sitting beside Xiao Rong’s bed, Qu Yunmie stayed silent for a while. Then he lifted Xiao Rong’s hand and dug some ointment from a porcelain jar. He gently rubbed it on Xiao Rong’s hands, especially the dry areas, applying an extra layer.

After treating one hand, he did the other. Once both hands were shiny and smooth, he looked at Xiao Rong’s face. Seeing him sleep deeply, he gently turned Xiao Rong onto his side and carefully inspected his face and ears in the dim light.

It looked fine. No frostbite.

After checking, Qu Yunmie’s gaze returned to Xiao Rong’s face. Sleeping, he looked so peaceful—no cunning eyes, no sharp words. He lay quietly, obedient and real, giving the illusion that he would always be like this, lying obediently in Qu Yunmie’s hand, the treasured possession he valued most.

Qu Yunmie lifted his hand. His palm lightly moved toward Xiao Rong’s cheek. When he had applied the ointment, he had been calm. But now, gently touching Xiao Rong’s sleeping face made him nervous.

The greatest distance he allowed was a centimeter of air. He imagined what it would feel like if he could touch him directly. If Xiao Rong were awake and silently allowed it, what would it feel like?

But it was impossible.

That centimeter was a short but insurmountable barrier, his fragile pride, and his last line of self-control.

People could not think endlessly. Eventually, he came to his senses and saw himself in this position. He suddenly felt ridiculous.

Then he thought of himself two days ago, seeing Xiao Rong kneel yet being powerless, even unable to mention it. That was not just a little ridiculous—it was extremely ridiculous.

Xiao Rong had made him reasonable because he thought: in Xiao Rong’s eyes, this was how things should be. They were ruler and minister. Xiao Rong always reminded him how a ruler should behave, how to show his noble status. So he acted accordingly. That was normal.

But Qu Yunmie’s nature was not so reasonable. When rational, he suppressed his thoughts. When impulse took over, he desperately wanted to ask Xiao Rong one question: “Why—have you never felt concern for me?”

The tiny tent echoed with this low murmur. Hearing his own voice, Qu Yunmie felt even more ridiculous. To ask a person for such a thing—this was the most shameful act in the world.

He pressed his lips, put the jar away, pulled the blanket over Xiao Rong, returned his hands to him, and then turned and left.

In the deep night, everything was silent. The camp was completely quiet, except for patrolling guards occasionally walking outside. They never paid attention to the tents behind them. So no one saw that, shortly after Qu Yunmie left the small tent, Xiao Rong turned over and lay on his side again, because to him, this was the most comfortable and warm sleeping position.

 

Edited by: Antiope

 

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