Chapter Sixty: The Unfamiliar Husband

Everyone’s attention was fixed on the unknown newcomer. Even Chang Geng and Sikong had paused their struggle, eyes glancing warily in this direction, weapons drawn and locked in a tense standoff.

The rider on horseback appeared slender, but his posture was ramrod straight. A flicker of sunlight danced across his pale lashes, softening his eyes to a glassy translucence. The sunlight made Kaiming squint slightly. She remembered that star-strewn night, how his eyes had appeared in the darkness—just this same color.

But now, there was no trace of his usual gentle smile on his face, nor any of the familiar laziness in his gaze. Instead, a stern and murderous air had replaced them, tension heightened by the faint quiver of his bowstring.

He sat astride his horse, longbow drawn, fixing Qingyun with a sharp and unyielding stare. The vibrating bowstring droned like a sinister tune, echoing in everyone’s ears.

“Who are you?” Qingyun asked, brow furrowing as he met the stranger’s gaze.

“Ming,” came the quiet reply.

Though softly spoken, the name struck Qingyun like a hammer. His eyes widened, locking onto the other’s face. “You’re Xuan?”

Xuan slowly lowered his longbow, his tone cool. “Does the Nangong strategist have some instruction for me?”

“You know me?” Qingyun was surprised.

Xuan lifted his chin, his face inscrutable. “I’ve heard that in Nangong there’s a man famed as an immortal—not only handsome but a master of strategy. After the battle at Yilin, where Dayin suffered a great defeat, his name spread far and wide. Seeing your extraordinary appearance, and noting how you’re never far from General Nangong’s beloved son, I’d wager you must indeed be Strategist Qingyun.”

Qingyun clapped his hands and laughed. “Absolutely correct.”

Kaiming stared at Xuan in a daze. This unfamiliar, cold Xuan was nothing like her honest, simple husband—the man who willingly bore the reputation of being henpecked, who stooped and toiled in the slums. Why? What had driven him to shed his timid mask? Was this unfamiliar face the true Xuan?

A sudden chill ran through her. So cold.

She realized she didn’t know these people at all—Dayin, Qingyun, none of them.

Qingyun’s laughter faded, but his lips curved up in a sly smile. “So, you’re here today to take your wife away, I see!” He deliberately emphasized the word “wife,” making Kaiming shudder again.

Xuan’s gaze passed over her with a fleeting, indifferent glance. “Of course. I’m here for her.”

Qingyun caught his look, a smile flickering in his eyes. “And if I say no?”

Xuan’s expression shifted ever so slightly, while Qingyun’s smile broadened. Their keen hearing picked up the approaching thunder of hurried footsteps from the road behind them.

With a fierce shout, Xuan spurred his horse, charging directly toward Kaiming’s position.

Qingyun sprang into action at the same instant.

Dogzi only saw a blur as two horses flashed past each other; in the next moment, Kaiming had vanished from the hard-packed earth.

Regaining her senses, she saw that Kaiming was now seated firmly behind Xuan, her face deathly pale, hands trembling as she clung to his waist.

“Hold tighter!” Xuan snapped irritably, and so she clung to him, her expression even more unnatural as she felt his body. What was Xuan angry about? Was he blaming her for being a burden?

He called out to Chang Geng, “Come quickly, provide cover!”

Chang Geng replied almost instinctively, though he wondered why this stranger presumed to order him about. Yet with the situation so dire, there was no time to question it—he shoved aside Sikong’s weapon, swung his halberd to bar Qingyun’s path.

“Dogzi!” Kaiming twisted around and called to the stunned young man.

Snapping out of his stupor, Dogzi hastily urged his horse after them, muttering curses under his breath. What was it about these people today that left him dazed again and again?

Chang Geng fought with a ferocity to match Sikong’s, and Qingyun had no intention of clashing head-on. He steadied himself in the saddle, smiling at Chang Geng. “If you keep hesitating, you won’t live to see home again.”

Chang Geng raised his thick brows in disdain, refusing to reply.

“You hear that?” Qingyun paid no mind to Chang Geng’s scowl, cupping a hand to his ear in a playful gesture. “Don’t you hear it?”

The thunder of marching boots and the clash of weapons were loud enough for even the deaf to notice. Chang Geng’s expression immediately changed.

Qingyun smiled coolly. “There's still time to leave.”

While they spoke, Sikong, face thunderous, swiftly circled around Chang Geng and, with lightning speed, gave chase.

Chang Geng was alarmed, but Qingyun only smiled. “It’s useless to block me. The one who wants Kaiming dead is Sikong, and he’s the one with weapons. Besides, his Red Wind is a famed steed...”

Before he finished, Chang Geng had already wheeled his horse and fled.

Qingyun watched as Nangong soldiers closed in, his eyes settling on the guards. One of them, anxious, called out, “Strategist, are you unharmed?”

He nodded and gave orders. “You riders, come with me!”

Red Wind’s hooves thundered swiftly. Soon, the sharp drum of hooves rang out. Xuan suddenly pulled his horse to a halt and barked at Kaiming and Dogzi, “Take off your clothes!”

The two stared at him in shock, Kaiming especially aghast. “But this is the only one I have…”

“Quickly! No time for nonsense!” Xuan commanded sternly.

Dogzi, face scarlet, turned away as Kaiming motioned. He quickly doffed his outer garment, eyes shut, and handed it over.

Kaiming snatched it and tossed her own to him.

“Get down!” Xuan barked again.

“What for?”

“Do it if you don’t want to die!” His tone left no room for argument.

Reluctantly, the two dismounted once more.

Xuan pulled Dogzi onto his own horse, then, reins in hand, said to Kaiming, “Head right from here. There’s a narrow side road—just keep going and you’ll reach the border post. It’s heavily guarded; Nangong’s men won’t dare pursue. Understand?”

She barely grasped his instructions.

“Go, now!” With a squeeze of his knees, Xuan’s horse darted away.

She scrambled onto Dogzi’s horse, realization dawning—it was a ruse to draw the enemy away. Xuan knew military tactics too!

She lagged behind, watching as Sikong’s red horse thundered after Xuan. Thankfully, the side road Xuan had mentioned was in sight. She whipped the horse’s flank, dropped the reins, and clung to its neck as they raced ahead.

Damn it, she’d never get used to fast riding—always fleeing in such disarray.

Seeing the two riders split, Sikong hesitated briefly before following Xuan. That was right—he only needed to track the female soldier; the other, that dazed male, was no concern.

Chang Geng and Qingyun followed close behind. The wind tossed the leaves along the little road, their rustling like mocking laughter.

Beyond the path rose a low hill. She stood atop it, peering down to see a station at the foot, people moving about, flags fluttering—never had such a sight seemed so dear.

Unable to contain herself, her eyes brimmed with tears as she thought of her arduous escape. She shouted with all her might, “I’m back!” and raced down the slope.

She tumbled from her horse at the gate, heedless of the wary glares from the guards. Grabbing their spears and halberds, she cried, “I’m back! I’m back!”

“Who are you? No shouting here!” the soldiers barked, but nothing could quell her exuberant cries.

“Where’s Dayin? I want to see General Dayin!” she yelled, half-mad with excitement. “General, it’s me, Kaiming! Kaiming is back!”

Before the soldiers could rebuke her further, a man emerged from the doorway—black robes, hair tied up, eyes dark and deep as night, fixing her with a piercing gaze.

She started in shock, instinctively stepping back. “Why are you here?”

That sharp chin, those slightly upturned eyes, the tightly pressed lips—wasn’t this her former instructor, Lord Ji?

Ji brushed aside the soldiers' weapons and strode forward. Before she could react, he suddenly opened his arms and pulled her into a tight embrace.

“Who are you? What’s going on?” she stammered, flustered and dizzy, arms dangling helplessly. After escaping death by a hair, now Ji greeted her like this—what a shock! As far as she remembered, they weren’t particularly close, aside from that one unexpected kiss.

That memory flashed across her mind, and feeling his warmth, she blushed furiously.

“My lord, please let me go!” she pleaded.

Ji only tightened his embrace, oblivious to the curious stares of the surrounding soldiers. “I thought you were dead, but you made it back alive!” His chin pressed into her shoulder, his voice hoarse. “Just being alive is enough.”

His words softened her resistance. She slowly relaxed. Ji cared about her—perhaps it wasn’t that complicated. Maybe he was simply worried for a comrade; thinking so, she felt more at ease.

Suddenly, Ji’s body went rigid. He looked up and released her. Two horses, their riders dusty and weary, approached, all three staring at him in surprise.

“You’re all back,” Ji said, resuming his usual composure.

Kaiming turned and saw the three who had escaped danger. How had Xuan managed to break free from both Sikong and Qingyun? But for now, her attention was on the expressions of her companions.

Xuan, as always, was unreadable. Dogzi and Chang Geng, on the other hand, gaped in astonishment at what they’d just witnessed.

Lord Ji, in front of everyone, had just embraced a female soldier!

What was going on?

Xuan dismounted, walked past them without expression, seized Kaiming’s wrist, and said curtly, “Hurry up, the general is waiting for you inside.”

She barely managed a word before he dragged her away.

Chang Geng scowled, shouting, “What’s going on? Who is this man, acting like everyone should obey him?”

“Him?” Ji sneered, glancing at Chang Geng. “He’s Kaiming’s husband.”

Chang Geng and Dogzi’s jaws dropped.

Crossing the threshold and descending the stone-paved corridor, Kaiming could stand it no longer.

“You’re hurting me!”

Xuan only tightened his grip.

“Are you trying to break my hand?”

He said nothing, simply pushed open a door, pulled her inside, and let go.

“We’re here.”

“You scoundrel! Do I owe you money or something?” she snapped, leaping up in anger. “I’ll make sure the general disciplines you properly! Beat you a hundred times and rid you of your bad habits!”

Xuan’s face twisted oddly, the corners of his mouth twitching as if he wanted to laugh but managed to hold back. He turned and called out, “General, Kaiming is here.”

She jumped again in surprise. The general? Was Dayin inside?