Preparing to Return to the Capital

Watching the incoming arrows, Feng Xilou spun around rapidly, his snow-white robes billowing in the wind. With a flick of his wrist, his sword sliced through several of them in the blink of an eye.

"You have truly grown tired of living! Tie him up and bring him back to the court!" Feng Xilou roared, but when he turned back, he saw blood seeping through Duan Nanyu's back. His expression froze. "Nanyu, why didn't you dodge?"

An arrow was deeply embedded in Duan Nanyu's back, blood flowing freely and leaving a dark, stained trail.

Yun Xueyan was held tightly in his embrace. Though she did not know what had happened, she could tell from Feng Xilou's words that Duan Nanyu was injured, and she had felt his body stiffen abruptly just moments before.

He... was trying to protect her?

To shield her, he could not dodge, and thus he had no choice but to use his own body to block the blow for her!

"Nanyu..." Her soft, low murmur was met only with Duan Nanyu's faint, bitter smile. Her reflection mirrored in his pitch-black eyes, making her heart feel as though it were being torn apart.

"Yan'er, I am fine. This minor wound won't kill me. Have you ever heard of an Asura dying?" Duan Nanyu managed a strained smile as he held Yun Xueyan closer. "I only care that you are safe."

"Nanyu, hand Yan'er to me. Let us hurry back. With Xiao Siyi in the camp, these injuries are nothing to him." Feng Xilou reached out to take Yun Xueyan, but Duan Nanyu smoothly evaded him.

"Nanyu, if you hold her like this and fail to protect her properly, do you want her to fall off the horse?" Feng Xilou was not in a hurry and reasoned with him, knowing well that in Duan Nanyu's position, he would never let go of Yun Xueyan either.

Just as he finished speaking, Duan Nanyu reluctantly handed Yun Xueyan over. His face had already paled to a complete, bloodless white. "Protect Yan'er well. Go!"

Back at the camp, Duan Nanyu and Yun Xueyan were sent to their respective tents. Xiao Siyi examined their injuries and declared that neither was in any grave danger or particularly serious.

The only severe injury was the one on Duan Nanyu's chest, which had burst open once more. When his armor was removed, the inner robe was already soaked through over a large area, completely stained with fresh blood.

"You truly are a stubborn fool, risking your life just to put up a front. Bleeding like this and still trying to act cool," Xiao Siyi grumbled as he swiftly treated the wound.

Still, this incident made him view Duan Nanyu in a slightly different light. At the very least, he acted like a true man, even if he was far too reckless and practically threw his life away!

"He merely didn't want Yan'er to worry. Did you truly think he earned the title of the Cold-Faced Prince because of a ruthless heart?" Feng Xilou smiled seductively, looking at the unconscious figure on the couch, a subtle, unspoken tenderness hidden within his phoenix eyes. "His heart is softer than anyone's, but living in the imperial palace forces him to be cold and hard. Every time he goes to battle, he forces himself to endure, biting his bullet through injuries. Yet somehow, he always manages to pull through. Would you not say he is blessed with great fortune?"

Xiao Siyi fastened the bandage, then turned to look at Feng Xilou. "You seem to understand him quite well. Yet earlier, you two looked at each other like mortal enemies."

There was a hint of playful amusement in his tone, accompanied by a faint smile as Xiao Siyi stared unblinkingly at Feng Xilou. "Was it because of a woman? Ah, a woman's charm is truly powerful these days. Fortunately, I have never lost my heart; otherwise, I shudder to imagine what I would become."

A bewitching smile hung upon his enchanting face. Feng Xilou smoothed his cuffs, gave two light coughs, and said, "Well then... Siyi, I shall go check on Yan'er. You stay here and look after Nanyu."

With that, he vanished from the tent in the blink of an eye.

Xiao Siyi gave a speechless, silent chuckle. Feng Xilou was showing more and more emotions lately, but perhaps that wasn't a bad thing.

The battle lines had completely stabilized, and time flew by swiftly. Yun Xueyan's wounds were almost entirely healed, thanks to Xiao Siyi's highly effective medicines. Fortunately, they were not too far from the Southern Kingdom, a region abundant in medicinal herbs, allowing Xiao Siyi to treat them all the more skillfully.

Feng Xilou stood to the side, turning his face away until Xiao Siyi finished inspecting Yun Xueyan's scars. Just because Xiao Siyi harbored no improper thoughts toward Yun Xueyan did not mean... that he didn't.

Sometimes, merely standing close to her was enough to make him feel as though he might combust. After all, he was a normal, healthy man.

"How is it, Siyi?" Feng Xilou asked. "Will it leave any scars?"

"Of course not. Do you doubt my medical skills? Such a minor wound is nothing to me." Shrugging, Xiao Siyi poured himself a cup of tea and downed it in one gulp. "It's just a pity that her old scar is beyond my cure."

"It doesn't matter. I stopped caring long ago." Yun Xueyan put on her padded jacket, stood up, and gave a faint smile. "Though it seems you are the one who minds, Young Master Xiao."

"I merely feel that a woman's appearance is of great importance to her," Xiao Siyi said as he walked out of the tent and stretched lazily. "I suppose I was just meddling needlessly." He let out a soft chuckle; he had grown too accustomed to a carefree life, yet lately, he found himself wanting to poke his nose into everything.

Inside the tent, Yun Xueyan finished tidying everything up before meeting Feng Xilou's gaze. Her clear eyes were like pools of spring water as she looked at him, slowly curving into crescent moons. "Xilou, are we setting off to return tomorrow?"

"Mm, it is time to go back. Both you and Nanyu need to return and recuperate properly. The conditions here are far too crude and unsuited for recovery. I certainly cannot bear for my Yan'er to suffer any further harm." Curving his lips into a gentle smile, Feng Xilou reached out to adjust the collar of Yun Xueyan's robe, his smile growing even warmer. "Yan'er, do you perhaps like me just a little bit now?"

"Hmm?" She raised her gaze slightly to meet his eyes, her face flushing crimson. "It seems... not."

"Not even a little?" Seeking confirmation, a wave of disappointment washed over Feng Xilou's handsome face. "Very well, then. I shall continue to try harder, until one day, right here," he tapped his own chest with a finger, "there is room for me. Do you understand, Yan'er?"

Giving a shallow, bitter smile, Yun Xueyan averted her gaze so she was no longer looking into Feng Xilou's eyes. She could feel gratitude toward him, but she was not yet ready to love him. Her heart was empty... and she had no way to fill it.

She and he remained worlds apart. She still found herself unable to accept Feng Xilou, even knowing how good he was. Precisely because he was too good, she felt a profound sense of unworthiness.

"Look at me." Feng Xilou's tone suddenly turned heavier. He straightened Yun Xueyan's posture, half-bowed so he was at eye level with her, and brought his face close to hers. Gazing intently into the face that, though imperfect, remained unforgettable to him, he smiled faintly. "Yan'er, look at me. Let me see myself in your eyes. Will you?"

As if placed under a spell, Yun Xueyan looked at Feng Xilou without blinking. Her field of vision was completely filled by his exquisite, flawless face, enveloped in a gentle, soul-captivating smile.

"Yan'er... try to accept me." He gently pressed his lips to her petite mouth, his kiss lingering and lingering. Unlike Duan Nanyu's overbearing demands, his kiss was filled with an unyielding tenderness, taking possession of her little by little, drop by drop.

Her body froze on the spot. Before she could dodge, she had already sunk entirely into his tenderness. If... if only she had met Feng Xilou sooner, how wonderful that would have been.

Perhaps none of things would have ever reached this stage.

Tears slipped from her eyes, falling onto the back of Feng Xilou's hand—warm yet chillingly cold. His heart gave a sharp, painful jolt. Was he being too impatient? He shouldn't have bullied her like this.

It was just that... he truly wanted to cherish her with all his heart.

Releasing the person before him, his gaze dimmed for a fraction of a second. "Yan'er, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have treated you like this." His voice carried a trace of sorrow as he murmured an apology and pulled her into his embrace. "Yan'er, try to give yourself a chance, will you? Whether you choose me or Nanyu, I will have no complaints. Truly. Nanyu's feelings for you... are sincere."

His words choked in his throat, every syllable feeling as though it were slicing through his vocal cords. He was not being magnanimous; he was petty enough to want to keep her entirely to himself, to lock her by his side. But he respected her, and whatever she chose, he would accept.

"Xilou." Wiping away the tears at the corner of her eyes, she flashed a brilliant smile, refusing to dwell on anything concerning Duan Nanyu. "You do not need to apologize to me. The one who should say sorry is me. Xilou, wouldn't it be better to try and find a fine woman? Why waste your time on me?"

Her words were resolute, but the smile on her face slowly dissolved into something more natural. She had always believed that someone much better suited for him should be by his side, hadn't she?

"In this lifetime, I have set my heart on only one woman, and that is Yun Xueyan!" His declaration did not waver in the slightest. It was not the first time he had encountered her resolutenism; she had too many misgivings, but he could gradually chip away at them.

"Xilou..." she called out anxiously.

Why was he always so stubborn? Where had his elegance and calm indifference gone? Yet, she was completely helpless against him when he acted like this, leaving her with no choice but to fall silent.

The tent was as warm as spring. Occasionally, a stray gust of wind blew in through the lifted flap of the curtain. Neither spoke further, standing face to face in silence...

Once the army reorganized, they prepared to make the journey back. Snow began to fall once more, delicate flakes drifting downward. This winter had seen an extraordinary amount of snow, storm after storm following one another.

Before the previous layer of snow could melt, a fresh one arrived to take its place, once again blanketing the earth in a coat of pristine white.

Yun Xueyan sat inside the carriage, deliberately turning her head toward the window to avoid catching that burning gaze.

Because Duan Nanyu's wounds had not yet healed and he could not ride a horse, he had no choice but to squeeze into the carriage with her. Being tall, his presence inside the cramped space practically cornered her, nearly drawing her into his arms.

And right now, that once-ice-cold face was plastered with a smile as he foolishly stared at her. She... still couldn't quite figure out the situation; Duan Nanyu's emotional volatility was entirely beyond her grasp.

"Yan'er." His voice remained deep and carried a chilly aura, yet he tried his best to soften it as he called her name. "Do you... truly despise the sight of me this much?"

He let out a self-deprecating, bitter laugh, leaning back against the soft cushions to close his eyes. Shifting into a lazy, semi- reclining posture, he forced Yun Xueyan even deeper into the corner.

She shifted slightly, trying to maintain a distance between them. He was still injured, and she did not want to brush against his wounds. Her petite form curled inward, a sight that felt like needles pricking at Duan Nanyu's heart.

Did she want to distance herself from him that badly? Could she really remain indifferent to everything he had done for her? He despised himself at times; rather than remaining a carefree, unrestrained prince, he had willingly shackled himself to this tormenting emotion.

Yet, she was his fatal flaw. He neither wanted to let go, nor dared to. He had already missed too much!

Reaching out, he effortlessly pulled her into his arms. Before she could resist, she found herself completely immobilized, staring up at him with wide, watery eyes filled with a trace of panic. Whenever he acted like this, it inexplicably made her nervous and afraid—mostly out of fear that she would aggravate his injuries.

Creating a gap between them once more, she lowered her voice and said, "Let me go."

Her gaze pierced him deeply. He loosened his arms, yet crowded her back into the corner, trapping her within his embrace. "Yan'er, do you really care about me so little?" His face suddenly darkened as he looked down at her, his profound eyes cloaked in an inscrutable expression. "Can you swear to me that there is no longer any room for me in your heart?"

"Yes!" She answered without a moment's hesitation, her tone righteous and resolute.

Driven mad by fury, he wondered how she could answer a question he had struggled to voice for so long without even stopping to think.

He didn't want to be angry with her, but he simply couldn't control himself!

Her detachment drove him to rage, yet her delicate vulnerability melted his heart into pity. He was torn to the point of madness! He felt utterly ridiculous—how was he supposed to treat her? He no longer knew.

If he pushed too hard, he feared hurting her, terrified of the reproachful and pained look in her eyes. If he grew distant, he feared her intentional alienation. He had found himself utterly lost in uncertainty...

"What about Feng Xilou then? Is he in your heart?" He breathed heavily, asking with an icy chill. "Is he!" He dreaded her answer; part of him didn't want to hear her say it, yet he couldn't stop himself from asking!

She fell silent, saying not a word. She merely glared at him, as though hoping this would extinguish every single one of his lingering thoughts. An abrupt stillness settled inside the carriage.

The sound of his fists clenching tightly was exceptionally clear within the confined space. Drawing a deep breath, Duan Nanyu pulled Yun Xueyan even tighter into his embrace. The more she tried to push him away, the closer he would draw her to him!

She was his woman, and she always had been!

Suddenly, a cold, self-mocking smile tugged at the corner of his lips. With a gloomy, intense gaze, he looked down at the person trapped against him. "Your silence means no, Yun Xueyan. You clearly still have me in your heart. Why must you deny it?"

"Duan Nanyu, you are being utterly delusional. There has been no place for you in my heart for a long time. Even if there were, it is no longer the affection between a man and a woman. Do you understand?" she whispered, a bitter laugh escaping her lips.

This entanglement—this endless, unrelenting entanglement—had left her utterly exhausted.

With a despairing, chilling laugh, Duan Nanyu pulled himself up in defeat and drew Yun Xueyan into his arms with gentle movements. As the person in his arms struggled faintly, a pleading, pained voice whispered against her ear, "Yan'er, don't move. Let me hold you for a while, just for a little while." He was reduced to such a cowardly entreaty.

She stopped moving, held securely in his arms, swallowed by an unnameable tide of emotions.