Chapter 7

“Xue Ran, you…” At dawn, when Xi Yimin opened his eyes, he saw Leng Xue Ran holding her sword, pointing it at his own neck, her face ashen, her eyes filled with hatred. The goodwill he had just felt towards her vanished instantly, and he said coldly, “How could you be such a filthy and despicable person…” Hearing this, Xi Yimin felt a sudden chill and sneered, “Does Xue Ran think so?”

"How could you be so despicable! Kill Guan Haoshan, see my mother, take your life, and then I, Leng Xueran, will also destroy myself. I won't live such a filthy life!"

"Xue Ran, do you really not love me at all? Am I so worthless and filthy in your heart? Do you despise everything I've touched? Even yourself. Xue Ran, I don't know why, but I just want to see you all the time!"

After a long silence, Xi Yimin murmured, "In that case, I am somewhat unwilling..." He then walked towards the sword. Leng Xueran was startled, the sword slipping from her hand and nearly severing her throat. Xi Yimin laughed, "Xueran, go back and ask your father for Guan Haoshan's portrait. Perhaps you will kill him soon..." Just then, the old man outside asked worriedly, "Young master, has something happened?" Xi Yimin replied urgently, "Old man, nothing's wrong." Hearing that nothing was amiss, the old man smiled and said, "That's good. Breakfast is ready; you two should eat while it's hot."

Saying goodbye to the old folks, we set off.

Inside the carriage, Leng Xueran remained silent, while outside, Xi Yimin, driving the carriage, was also preoccupied. Xi Yimin sighed softly; perhaps he had been too hasty. The sudden surge of love had uncontrollably overflowed from his heart and manifested in his actions. A bitter smile appeared on his lips; he feared he was doomed. Suddenly, he heard the sound of a herd of horses galloping towards them. Sensing danger, he spurred his horse into the depths of the nearby woods. After galloping through the woods for a while, Xi Yimin realized he couldn't escape, so he grabbed the woman in the carriage and used his light-footed skills to ride away. The woman in his arms struggled and angrily said, "Xi Yimin, what are you doing?" Xi Yimin hurriedly explained, "Xue Ran, there was a group of horsemen on horseback on the road we just passed. I was afraid they were chasing us. The carriage can't go fast in the forest, and you're injured, so I had no choice but to do this. Xue Ran, please forgive my abruptness, okay?" Although Xi Yimin spoke seriously, he was secretly overjoyed. Sure enough, the horsemen who should have been galloping by suddenly stopped and rode towards the woods. At this moment, Xi Yimin dared not be careless and used his lightness skill to fly even faster. The woman in his arms also sensed something was wrong and asked suspiciously, "I don't have any enemies, why are people chasing me?" After speaking, she looked at Xi Yimin with suspicious eyes and said, "Are they chasing you?" Xi Yimin laughed and said, "It seems that Xue Ran is very clever! This group of people is probably really chasing me. Who told me to be so handsome? I wonder whose daughter..." "My sister has taken a liking to me and wants to take me back as her husband." Hearing such frivolous words, the woman in his arms struggled, saying, "You're all show and no substance! Let me go!" "Xue Ran, keep your voice down, don't let those thieves discover us." "If you don't let me go, I'll shout! Anyway, those people aren't after me." Xi Yimin laughed, "Xue Ran, you're definitely not after me. Have you forgotten about that imposter Guan Haoshan's camp? It's probably those people!" Hearing this, Leng Xue Ran stopped struggling and coldly said, "In that case, I'll meet them and see who they are!" Xi Yimin smiled indifferently, "In that case, I'll grant Xue Ran's wish, let's go and find out together." Hearing this, Leng Xue Ran coldly said, "I won't trouble Young Master Xi with my own affairs." She broke free from Xi Yimin's embrace and used her not-so-fast lightness skill to fly towards the cavalry. Xi Yimin watched, shook his head helplessly, sighed, and quickly followed.

As expected, the horsemen stopped immediately upon seeing Leng Xueran and called out, "Miss, would you like to return with us?" Leng Xueran chuckled, "I don't even know you, why should I go back with you? Besides, I don't even know if you're good or bad people, what would I do with you?" Xi Yimin, who had arrived, laughed, "That's right! Why would my lady go back with you? In broad daylight, are you going to rob her?" The group, enraged, shouted, "Since that's the case, then we'll just have to rob her! Attack!" Xi Yimin didn't waste any words, leaping to stand in front of Leng Xueran to meet the enemy, giving them no chance to get close. He laughed, "Xueran, with such a mob, there's no need for you to lift a finger. I, Xi Yimin, can wipe them all out by myself." He then turned and gave Leng Xueran a bright smile. Leng Xueran looked at him, her lips unconsciously curving upwards, and she indeed stepped aside. After the group was wiped out by Xi Yimin, he turned around and found Leng Xueran nowhere to be seen. Xi Yimin smiled helplessly and walked into the depths of the forest.

In the so-called Guan Haoshan camp on the western outskirts of Fengcheng, the Third Prince sat in the main seat, angrily shouting, "A bunch of useless trash! You can't even capture a woman! What use are you to me?! Drag you out and execute you!" The man kneeling on the ground hurriedly pleaded, "Your Highness, spare our lives! That girl wasn't alone; she was accompanied by a man with extremely high martial arts skills." The Third Prince stepped down from the main seat and went to the kneeling man's side, angrily saying, "It's that brat from who-knows-where again! Sending more men, if open attacks don't work, then covert ones do. Do you understand? If we fail again this time and fail to bring that girl back, you'll all come back with your heads! Get out!" As he finished speaking, a smirk appeared on his lips, a wicked glint in his eyes, and he sneered, "Leng Xue Ran, you are my good pawn, so don't you dare run away! My dear father doesn't even know you exist yet! It's time to let him know you exist. The show is about to begin, hahaha! Someone!" A man entered from outside the tent and knelt down, saying, "What are your orders, Your Highness?" The Third Prince turned and picked up a painting from the table, saying, "Give this painting to Mother Consort and tell her to find a way to let Father see it, but don't let him know that we gave it to him. Do you understand what I'm saying?" The man replied, "Yes, Your Highness. I'll go right away."

In a forest along the road from Fengcheng to the capital, although Leng Xue Ran had fled early, Xi Yi Min, with his unparalleled martial arts skills, found her in less than half a day. Leng Xue Ran turned and coldly glared at the handsome man behind her, angrily asking, "What are you doing following me?" Xi Yi Min smiled, "To protect Xue Ran, of course." Leng Xue Ran laughed, "Protect me? I wonder who brought those people here?" Xi Yi Min chuckled, "Xue Ran, you don't know much. Although I, Xi Yi Min, have some wealth, I don't know many important figures, nor have I made any enemies. Why would anyone expend so much manpower to capture me? Perhaps they are Xue Ran's enemies." Leng Xue Ran scoffed, "Even if they are my enemies, I don't need Young Master Xi's concern. Farewell." With that, she headed towards Fengcheng. Leng Xue Ran wanted to see how coming to Fengcheng had caused her to make an enemy, and who it was!

That night, in the forest, Leng Xue Ran said coldly, "I told you not to follow me." Xi Yi Min laughed, "This mountain belongs to Xue Ran's family. You go your way, I'll go mine. Why should Xue Ran interfere so much?" Hearing this, Leng Xue Ran glanced at Xi Yi Min sideways, rarely paying attention to her. She sat down by a large tree, closed her eyes, and fell asleep. In the desolate wilderness, birds were not to be feared, but wild beasts were dangerous. Xi Yi Min looked at Leng Xue Ran, who was pretending to sleep by the tree, and smiled indulgently. Taking advantage of the still-dark sky, he found some firewood nearby, lit a fire, and fell asleep by the tree where Leng Xue Ran was leaning. Leng Xue Ran suddenly opened her eyes, turned her head to look at the person next to her, and by the firelight, she felt that the person was like a celestial being descended from heaven. She was somewhat mesmerized by the sight. When she saw the mischievous smile on the corner of the man's mouth, she was startled, her face slightly red, and she quickly closed her eyes and fell asleep as well. As dawn broke, Leng Xueran opened her eyes, startled to find herself lying in Xi Yimin's arms. She tried to sit up, but was held captive and unable to move. Gradually, her face flushed slightly, and she snapped, "Let go of your pig's trotters!" The man chuckled, "Is this how Xueran repays the person who warms you? Last night, someone came over willingly, and I reluctantly held this slightly chilly person in my arms; it made me cold." As she spoke, Leng Xueran struggled to sit up, accidentally touching the man's hand, which was indeed cool, while her own was warm. A warmth spread through her heart, and her words, tinged with a hint of coquettishness, became, "How do I know you're telling the truth? You're always spouting nonsense." "Who would believe you then?" She stood up, preparing to leave. Xi Yimin also stood up, smiling, "Xue Ran, you've wronged me. My feelings for you are absolutely genuine." He sighed inwardly, "What good is genuine feelings? I can't control my heart. I'm bewitched by you, I've lost my soul. But we can never be together. Whether it's my female body or your status as the daughter of my enemy, it's an insurmountable chasm between us. But these words can only be uttered in my heart, not spoken aloud. I fear that if I truly say them, we'll become strangers. Even more terrifying is the possibility that it will be either you or me who dies. It hasn't been long, and I already dare not think too much. I'm afraid that one day I'll never see you again. What would I become?"