Chapter 5

There was no time for further conversation, as the sound of bandits breaking through the door echoed from the outer room. Listening to the chaotic footsteps, Li Shuang thought that there might be dozens of them. She composed her expression and tightly gripped the blade at her waist. However, before she could act, the man swiftly picked her up horizontally, his movements as quick as lightning, and directly leaped out of the window.

Li Shuang furrowed her brows tightly, suddenly drawing her sword from its sheath, pointing it directly at his throat: "If you do not answer, I will take you back to Changfeng Camp and interrogate you slowly." Her attempt to rescue Li Ting was a sudden and urgent action, and logically speaking, apart from her trusted confidants, no one should have known about this news. However, all her actions had been detected by such a mysterious person.

He unexpectedly held the back of her head, showing no regard for reason, and did not give Li Shuang a chance to prepare before biting her lips...

Just as Li Shuang was determined to take decisive action, the clouds on the horizon suddenly brightened, signaling the imminent dawn

The military doctor has already examined him, and the young master has only been slightly frightened; there is no serious harm.

The man nodded: "There is poison on the blade; I just needed some time to adjust my internal energy."

Those who fight for the country prioritize the nation above all else, employing strategies and schemes, engaging in slaughter and bloodshed, all of which are commonplace. It is precisely because there are individuals like her, who stand as a wall of flesh and blood, guarding the borders, that the common people within the Great Jin Dynasty can live and work in peace. Thus, he is also qualified to engage in a trivial dispute in the capital over a small sugar figurine, just as the son of a prime minister would.

Upon entering the military camp, the soldiers immediately gathered around. Li Ting also rushed out of the tent, dressed in a thick fox fur coat. As soon as he saw Li Shuang, his eyes turned red, and he rushed into Li Shuang's embrace, exclaiming: "Elder sister!"

Li Shuang held the rope in one hand, struggling to maintain her footing on the sharp edges surrounding her, while with the other hand, she attempted to wrap the rope around the man's waist, intending to secure him before taking him up. However, after a long while of trying to wrap the rope around his waist with one hand, she still could not manage to tie him properly. Frustrated, Li Shuang said, "If you could just move that hand a little to help me get the rope around, I can take you up."

Li Shuang thought this way

As the man touched her breath, it was as if he had encountered a long-awaited rain after a drought, greedily savoring her scent, parting her lips, and invading the space between her teeth. It was as if he wanted to consume her, yet also to possess her

Li Shuang sighed and pulled Li Ting, saying, "Let's go back first." Then she raised her head and ordered someone to summon Luo Teng and several other deputy generals.

Her worries were in vain

Li Ting was protected by the old servant of the General's residence, quickly leading him into the tent against the biting cold wind. Li Ting turned back, glancing longingly at Li Shuang, only to see her already giving orders to several arriving deputy generals.

Li Shuang stood alone atop the mountain, gazing at the sunlight at the end of the sky. She forcefully threw the sword in her hand into the ground, covering her mouth, filled with hatred and gritting her teeth

The blood on his back was exposed to the cold air, and had even begun to freeze

Li Shuang's anger surged from her heart as she delivered a powerful punch to the man's waist and abdomen, showing no restraint in her strength

However, in fact, Li Shuang only wants to say one thing in response to his gaze:

Li Shuang was momentarily softened by his warm embrace, even though she had a hard heart. After all, Li Ting was her younger brother whom she had cared for and raised. Moreover, allowing Li Ting to accompany the soldiers to protect the supplies was ultimately a mistake in her decision-making, so she could not blame him.

At home, Father often said that he was not as good as his sister. Li Ting only thought it was because he was still young, but now he truly realizes that he is very far from Li Shuang, so far that it seems they are not even in the same world

Li Shuang had long since adapted to the dry and biting climate. After three years beyond the Great Wall, she had experienced numerous battles, both large and small, ambushing and launching surprise attacks in the cold nights, and defending against foreign enemies under the scorching sun. No matter how difficult the circumstances, she always rode alone, a general of the Changfeng Camp and a symbol of honor for the Great Jin at the border. Her back would not allow even the slightest curve, and her will did not permit her to speak of weakness. No matter how difficult the circumstances, she always rode alone, a general of the Changfeng Camp and a symbol of honor for the Great Jin at the border. Her back would not allow even the slightest curve, and her will did not permit her to speak of weakness

What are you looking at! I don't want to go up!

He suddenly disappeared before Li Shuang just as he had come, leaving no words or clues behind

First time

I am so angry! Is this the time to stare at someone? There is no sense of priority!

Li Shuang could only see the surrounding scene moving so quickly that it almost became a blur, with only the person holding her remaining a permanently fixed presence

His identity does not grant him the qualification to say much to Li Shuang. Even excessive inquiries would be considered overstepping.

sitting in front of someone like this, surrounded and protected by the presence of a man, is rather... for Li Shuang

He kissed her so abruptly

Li Shuang asked him again, "Who exactly are you?" She squinted her eyes, surveying him with full vigilance, "How do you know my identity, how do you know my whereabouts, and why have you come to assist me?"

Li Shuang only felt the man suddenly stiffen all over, as if he were enduring some pain, and then he abruptly released Li Shuang. He took two steps back

Their lips met, and no one had ever come this close to Li Shuang before. For a moment, Li Shuang's eyes widened, completely forgetting all external martial arts and internal mental techniques.

Damn thing

Li Shuang was indeed tired from walking, and did not stand on ceremony with Qin Lan. She mounted the horse and allowed Qin Lan to lead the horse beside her. She asked, "Has Li Ting returned?"

Li Ting looked at Li Shuang, only to see her gaze sharp as a knife, her expression cold and composed. Li Ting was somewhat taken aback; in his eyes, Li Shuang had always been the sister who playfully teased him, occasionally even a bit unrestrained. It was only at this moment that he realized the whispers he had heard in the capital, that people referred to his sister as a daughter of tigers and wolves, were indeed not an exaggeration at all

Li Shuang was taken aback: "What are you doing?"

Li Shuang scolded him with a single remark, yet the man did not get angry. He replied seriously, "Oh," and then, with his injured hand, wrapped it around her waist, holding her in a domineering and forceful manner.

Last night, few people went, and the bandits have not yet been eliminated. Today, there are no more concerns. Gather three thousand troops and take down that bandit den for me. The methods must be ruthless. Li Shuang's expression was cold and murderous, with a gaze full of ice. "Kill the chicken to scare the monkey, let the other forces and the Western Capital see what the consequences are for provoking our Great Jin."

Amidst the heavy snow, two individuals on horseback journeyed through the desolate expanse beyond the Great Wall, unaware of how far they had traveled. Upon reaching a cliff, the horse they had seized from the bandits could no longer continue, frothing at the mouth and slowing down.

Li Shuang simply sat on horseback, gazing steadily at him: "You know who I am." This was an affirmative statement. Li Shuang looked directly into the man's eyes. She had never revealed her identity to him, and today she was still dressed in her night attire, not in the uniform of the Changfeng Camp. The man did not ask anything and directly led her towards the direction of the Changfeng Camp, clearly indicating that he was aware of her identity.

The man remained silent, his hand still outstretched in the air. It was only when Li Shuang turned over and dismounted, standing on the other side, that he slightly dimmed his gaze and withdrew his hand.

Li Shuang was a bit stunned, this person... what on earth is going on... making it seem as if she is some kind of heartless scoundrel now...

The man dismounted and reached out to help Li Shuang down

Li Shuang sighed: "Father is right, Li Ting's temperament seems fierce, but he has been spoiled in the capital. When faced with situations, he still behaves like a delicate young lady, needing to be tempered."

This action brought the man one step closer to being even more audacious. He reached out, and his scorching palm pressed against Li Shuang's back once again. At that moment, Li Shuang intended to retaliate and block him with her sword, but she was already stunned by his next move.

After a brief moment of dazed distraction, Li Shuang finally reacted abruptly

Li Shuang blinked and emerged from the trap, yet the man did not release her; he continued to hold her. Being embraced by a stranger, Li Shuang found it quite strange. She immediately pushed against his chest with both hands and stepped out of his embrace, frowning as she asked him: "You could have come out by yourself?"

Qin Lan responded, "The young master is still underage, General, please do not be too harsh on him." After a pause, Qin Lan slightly turned her gaze to Li Shuang on the horse, and after some contemplation, she softly inquired, "I heard the young master mention that last night at the bandit stone stronghold, a mysterious person wearing a black mask came to offer assistance, General..."

As the surrounding scene slowed down, Li Shuang had already been placed on horseback by someone. The man behind her mounted the horse, taking her along as they broke through the gates of the stone fortress, riding away with great swagger, regardless of the chaos and clamor among the bandits within the fortress.

However, before the words had fully left his lips, the man leaped straight down from the mountaintop. Li Shuang's pupils constricted as she took a few steps forward to search for the man's trace, but at that moment, she was completely unaware of where he had gone.

However, when her blade was pointed at the opponent's throat, she saw that the crimson eyes behind the man's cold, black mask seemed to reveal a hint of wounded emotion

The man remained still, and Li Shuang, feeling impatient, raised her head, ready to scold him. However, she was taken aback to see the man's bright red eyes gazing at her with a tenderness akin to flowing water. Filled with deep affection, it made Li Shuang wonder if she had, at some unknown time in the past, had a passionate lover beyond the frontier.

As he reached Li Shuang's side, Qin Lan dismounted and fixed his gaze upon her, scrutinizing her for a long while. Seeing that she was unharmed, he seemed to finally relax, the tightly pressed corners of his lips easing slightly. "General," he addressed her with utmost respect, bowing slightly, "You must be weary, please mount your horse first."

Li Ting gritted his teeth and silently returned to his tent

Upon hearing this, Qin Lan looked up in surprise and glanced at Li Shuang, but seeing her displeased expression, she lowered her gaze and replied softly, "Yes"

Being treated as an enemy by her made him feel very sad and hurt

From here, one can already see the distant shadow of Changfeng Camp in the far distance

These questions were asked with such calmness and sharpness, yet they seemed to sink into the sea like a stone, receiving no response

As soon as he finished speaking, he loosened his left hand and grabbed the rope that Li Shuang had lowered. Using a bit of force on several sharp edges beneath his feet, he embraced Li Shuang and stepped onto the sharp blades, quickly escaping the trap and standing on solid ground

The means must be ruthless, which implies that Li Shuang intends to leave not a single survivor.

At the moment she was lost in thought, the man suddenly stepped forward, his throat almost touching the blade of her sword. Li Shuang did not truly intend to kill him, so she instinctively deflected the blade to the side, avoiding injuring him.

Regarding military matters, Li Shuang cannot easily let go of the other party simply because they saved her and appear to have no malicious intent

When Li Shuang returned to the military camp, it was already bright outside. As soon as her figure appeared at a distance outside the camp, a soldier on the watchtower spotted her and immediately reported it. Qin Lan, who had been left by Li Shuang to handle matters within the camp, quickly rode over in haste.

I will take you up

Li Shuang heard this person and recalled the scene on the mountaintop just before dawn, feeling both ashamed and angry. However, she could not show her emotions in front of the soldiers, so she maintained a cold expression and interrupted Qin Lan's words: "Don't mention it"

The cold wind from the frontier cuts through flesh and bone, mingling with the heavy snowfall, rendering everything around desolate and bleak

Li Shuang brandished her sword and shouted at him: "Do not even think about escaping!"

This scoundrel

The man let out a muffled groan, clearly in pain from the beating. He bent at the waist, yet still did not release Li Shuang, as if he was extremely reluctant to part with her, clinging to the contact with Li Shuang.