Chapter 126 Hunting (1) "I'm nothing but a worthless life."...

The defenses of Sotaha's palace were far less formidable than those of the two empires of Huanghua. There were no towering palace walls, and since Qiqige had loved coming to the palace to search for Arslan since she was a child, she knew the palace well. It didn't take her long to carry Feng Tan into the dark alley outside the palace.

Despite her robust physique, Qiqige was finding it difficult to keep up with such prolonged exertion. When she finally saw the tall, spirited horse standing quietly in the dark alley, she sighed in frustration, "I say, you should lose some weight! How come you're so heavy!"

Feng Tan found her complaining tone and appearance adorable, like a blooming Gesang flower, and couldn't help but laugh, saying, "Qiqige, thank you."

Her voice was sincere and warm, and for some reason, Qiqige suddenly felt a little embarrassed. She shifted her eyes slightly to avoid Feng Tan's gaze, took a deep breath, lifted Feng Tan up by the waist and placed him on the horse's back. She then mounted her own horse and turned back to Feng Tan, saying, "Hold on tight, we need to hurry!"

Boriged was no pushover; he must already know that the hostages had been taken and that a trap was being laid for them.

The horse was moving very fast, and the wind was howling in their ears. Qiqige's voice was carried by the wind, "Hey, what's your name?"

Feng Tan's fingers gripped the sides of her waist, while Qiqige's three braids, which were scattered in the wind, fell over her shoulders. As the horse's body rose and fell, she replied, "Feng Tan."

“Feng Tan…” Qiqige chewed on the name, then suddenly a thought struck her, and she raised her voice, “Feng Tan? That seventh-rank official who disguised herself as a man to enter the court and do her best to overturn Feng Youming’s case?!”

It had been a long time since anyone had mentioned the gentleman's name. Feng Tan felt a slight pang in her heart upon hearing this, and then heard Qiqige say in an excited tone, "Alright, then I forgive you."

Qiqige was incredibly cute, and Feng Tan couldn't help but chuckle behind her, asking, "Why did you forgive me again?"

The bright moon hung high, its clear light like frost, spilling across the undulating grassland. Their reflections as they galloped on horseback seemed to carry the flowing light. Qiqige's voice was as clear and melodious as a wind chime as she said, "Mr. Feng's students naturally possess a fine character."

Feng Tan paused slightly, then asked, "You know her?"

Qiqige gripped the whip tightly and lashed it out, causing the horse beneath him to gallop at a noticeable faster pace. "Mr. Feng, who is like a moth drawn to a flame, risking death to live, and seeking a little fairness for women all over the world, who doesn't know him?"

In a sense, Feng Youming was successful. Although she did not overthrow the feudal empire's system of male superiority and female inferiority, her girls' education gently permeated the hearts of many girls, and they have become aware of their own subjectivity.

"If Mr. Feng knew how she would end up, would she regret it?" Qiqige asked.

His reforms failed, and he was subsequently imprisoned in the imperial prison for eight years before finally dying from a hail of arrows.

If she could have foreseen her fate at the beginning of her time travel, would she still have chosen to come a thousand years ago to pave a fair path for women of later generations?

“No.” Feng Tan’s voice was soft but firm. “She already knew her fate before she launched the revolution.”

The outline of the yurt in the distance was faintly visible in the moonlight until it gradually disappeared behind them. In the dim light and shadow, Feng Tan slowly said, "Those who reform and change have never met a good end. She knew this from the moment she came into this world."

Qiqige couldn't understand what Feng Tan was saying, but she could roughly guess that a hero like Feng Youming, who was of great righteousness, had long transcended the mortal realm and had long abandoned his own life, death, gain, and loss. All she cared about was whether she could open up a ladder to heaven for women.

Feng Tan's words had a hidden meaning; this must be a secret between the two of them, so Qiqige didn't continue asking about Feng Youming's matter. Instead, she asked Feng Tan, "And you, did you carry on her wishes?"

Feng Tan rarely wanted to confide in anyone, but Qiqige possessed a natural charm that she admired, and she became more talkative. "At first I was unwilling, but later..."

Initially, she only wanted to rescue her husband from prison, but later she became unwilling to give up.

"Unwilling to accept it?"

"Ten mission restarts in total, too many people have died. This ending shouldn't be their final destination." Feng Tanren's face was brushed by the night breeze, which carried the unique freshness and fragrance of the grassland. "If they can be reincarnated, they should enjoy life to the fullest in this world. The next time we meet, I want them to be able to live the way they like in a new world."

If you want to be an official, be an official; if you want to be a businessman, be a businessman. You don't have to be confined to the inner quarters or live a life dependent on men. You can strive for wealth and power, be self-sufficient, and do whatever you want.

Qiqige's voice was devoid of emotion. "But it's very difficult."

You don't know how difficult something is until you experience it; this is as difficult as climbing to heaven.

Along the way, Feng Tan has fully witnessed the arduousness of reforming the legal system.

Feng Tan's eyes flashed with a sharp, cold light, and in the dim light, no one could see the true nature of her eyes. "Doubtful actions lead to no fame, doubtful deeds lead to no success. Success makes one a king, failure makes one a bandit, and I am nothing but a worthless life."

Her blatant ambition was evident in her words. If Feng Tan had once been as demure as a Bodhisattva, she had now grown up and made no attempt to hide her desire for power and money. In this world, without power and wealth, nothing could be accomplished.

They will always be in a passive position, at the mercy of others.

Her ambitions were growing, and her perceptions were changing step by step, without her even realizing it.

Qiqige said, "You are not a worthless life. The emperor of Huachao values ​​your life very much."

At first, Qiqige was very curious as to why Huadi was willing to cede hundreds of miles of land to capture this person, and why Arslan could defy his father for this person. Now she understood a little. Feng Tan had a strange personal charm that had nothing to do with his appearance.

She genuinely liked this girl from the Central Plains.

Following the escape route provided by Arslan, Qiqige needed to lead Fengtan north to the border between Sotaha and Dahuang. They galloped ahead on horseback when they suddenly heard the sound of galloping hooves behind them. Judging from the sound, there weren't many horses, so it was probably not Boriged's pursuers.

Qiqigra stopped the reins, and the horse slowly came to a stop. The figure galloping behind them became clearer and clearer; it was Arslan.

Arslan's amber eyes were fixed on Feng Tan as he said in a deep voice, "I'm sorry."

He didn't elaborate further, but Feng Tan knew he meant that he hadn't kept his promise and had fallen into his own father's trap.

Feng Tan smiled and said, "It's alright, I'm out now, aren't I?"

Arslan's decision not to abandon Feng Tan for the sake of the benefits offered by his country and Boriged, and instead exchange her with Xiao Yin, is enough to prove that Arslan is a very good person.

Boriged transferred some of his true energy to Arslan, restoring some of his martial prowess. With a squad of personal guards behind him, he clasped his hands in thanks to Qiqige, saying, "Qiqige, I owe you this favor. If you ever need Arslan's help in the future, I will certainly not refuse."

Qiqige laughed and said, "Then I'll remember that. You can't go back on your word."

“Farewell.” Arslan wrapped his long arm around Feng Tan’s waist, placed her behind him, and said softly, “If you’re afraid of falling, you can hold me.”

The clatter of hooves sounded again. Qiqige watched their figures gradually disappear into the vast night before looking up at the starry sky and softening her voice, "Eternal Heaven, please protect them and keep them safe."

......

The spirited horse galloped on, its hooves kicking up sparks of gravel as it pounded the ground, the horseshoes striking the earth with a metallic clang, its pace faster than a sudden downpour. From the darkness of night to the approaching dawn, it carried the two of them to the Sotaha border.

Ahead lay a range of rolling mountains, the sun rising through the white clouds. Feng Tan's strength slowly returned to her body. She squinted at the magnificent peaks ahead and asked Arslan, "Where is this?"

Arslan stopped his horse, leaped off its back with a long gait, and instead took the reins, saying, "This is Dengquan Cliff. After passing this cliff, Dahuang is just ahead."

After saying that, he turned and looked at Feng Tan, who looked tired, and asked, "Have you regained your strength?"

Qingcang landed back on Feng Tan's arm. She stroked its feathers and said, "You're back."

Arslan followed her movements and looked over. The eagles kept by King Sotaha were watching everything. Feng Tan summoned Qing Cang to block their pursuit. It was unclear whether the words "You're back" were spoken to Qing Cang or to him.

It should be nothing serious now.

A crisp breeze ruffled Arslan's slightly disheveled hair. Feng Tan's heart stirred slightly, and she said softly, "Arslan, I'll walk my own path. You should go back to Sotaha."

Arslan paused, his fingers tightening on the reins. After a moment of silence, he said to Feng Tan, "I'll see you off."

At this moment, he was holding the reins of the tall horse that Feng Tan was riding, and looking back at Feng Tan, he looked like a knight who was loyal to serving a princess. The emotion in his eyes was sincere and passionate, and could not be contained.

But his face was stern, devoid of his usual carefree smile, and Feng Tan knew that she had caused him a lot of distress.

Feng Tan scrutinized the young man before her. He was a good person, and she didn't want to drag him down.

Arslan seemed to know what she was thinking. He knew she was a decisive person, so he spoke first before she could say anything: "I know what I should do... Feng Tan, don't try to stop me."

He couldn't hide those surging, passionate feelings of love, nor did he intend to. Sotaha was a man of few words; he had met such a person in the Huachao court, and this was his destiny. As for whether he could have a good ending... he would see how many journeys he took.

Feng Tan saw the stubbornness in Arslan's amber eyes, and her heart stirred again and again. No one could easily resist such pure love. A faint joy rose in her chest. After years of suppressing her feelings, she decided to allow herself to indulge like this once, so she whispered, "Okay."

A smile spread across Arslan's face, making him look incredibly handsome in the sunlight. He took the reins and slowly led the horse across the last patch of grass, heading towards the rugged rocks spread out below the mountains.

Feng Tan, tired of sitting, dismounted and followed him side by side. The mountain forest was quiet and cool in the early morning, with unpredictable dangers ahead and behind. She took a bite of the naan bread that Qiqige had prepared, and handed another piece to Arslan, analyzing, "Your father Khan's pursuers are behind us, which is an open attack. The troublesome one is Xiao Yinshi. He acts unpredictably, and we don't know what his next move will be."

“Yin Qi.” Arslan took the naan bread, then opened his water pouch and took a big gulp, letting the water droplets drip from his chin. His every move exuded a sense of unruliness. Recalling everything Feng Tan had encountered in the Birch Palace, his expression turned grim again. “Feng Tan, I want to kill him.”

Feng Tan glanced at him sideways, then smiled and echoed, "Yes, I want to too."

Dappled sunlight filtered through the branches of the trees. Arslan, startled by her bright smile, looked away awkwardly. “The mountain ahead, Dengquan Cliff, is steep and difficult to defend or attack. I suspect he will make his move just as you step into the territory of Dahuang.”

“No,” Feng Tan denied, her beautiful profile showing a resolute curve. “He’s already on his way.”

Xiao Yinshi was a vengeful person. She severed his tendons and thwarted his plan to take her away from Sotaha. According to his temperament, he would have wanted to kill her himself to be satisfied.

Arslan's lips tightened, his eyes, like those of a hawk, grew increasingly defensive. He unconsciously grabbed Feng Tan's arm in a protective stance and said, "I will do everything in my power to protect you."

It was actually quite difficult, and they both knew that. Even though Xiao Yinshi had been crippled by Feng Tan, it didn't prevent him from mobilizing the Huachao army. If his henchmen had acted faster, they would have already reached the vicinity of the mountains.

Hiding in the deep mountains is not an easy task, so one should not leave footprints easily.

Even with the fastest pace, it would take three days to cross this mountain. Feng Tan and Arslan dared not rest for long in the forest; their clothes were covered in mud and dust as they hurried through the woods, and they traveled through the night, covered in dust and grime.

After walking for two days, the two crossed another mountain. The mountain ahead was steep and precipitous. Arslan squinted in the darkness and pointed ahead, saying, "This is Dengquan Cliff."

The moment Arslan spoke, a hidden blade flashed between his brows. Feng Tan quickly pulled him behind him, drew the longsword from Arslan's waist to block the incoming arrow, and then shot the longsword in his hand at the attacker.

"Clap! Clap! Clap!" The sound of clapping rang out from the dark forest. Zhu Qi pushed Xiao Yinshi in a wheelchair out of the darkness, and the cold armor of the army behind them gleamed coldly in the moonlight.

Xiao Yinshi sat in his wheelchair, his clasped hands loosened, his eyelashes slowly lifted, his gaze lingered on Arslan for a moment before seizing Feng Tan, his voice cold and sharp, "You're good at tracking and counter-tracking, but you've forgotten that hunters always have a natural sensitivity to their prey."

After saying that, he leaned forward slightly, his face covered with a thin layer of ferocity, a smile on his lips, but his eyes were terrifyingly sinister. "Feng Tan, you are like a python swallowing a dragon, you will die without a burial place."