Chapter 58 (First published on Jinjiang Literature City)
Chapter Fifty-Eight
Lin Rong had seen Pei Zan in many different forms.
The man raised his lips in a cold sneer, smiled calculatingly, narrowed his eyes to scrutinize, and glanced at people with disdain... His phoenix eyes were always rational and clear-headed, looking down on all living beings like a god who created the heavens.
But she had never seen Pei Zan so terrifyingly suppress his emotions. His expression was as cold and calm as ever, but the steely muscles that held Lin Rong's slender waist tightly, and the handkerchief dipped in water to wipe the bloodstains on Lin Rong's cheek, all revealed Pei Zan's madness and obsession.
His possessiveness was strong, as if he disliked Lin Rong being stained with other people's blood. He wiped her face meticulously, but used a bit too much force, even wiping Lin Rong's chin until it was red.
Before Lin Rong could even frown, she slapped his hand away.
Pei Zan's phoenix eyes, cold as knives, suddenly fixed on her full, cherry-like lips.
Lin Rong was startled by the fierce possessiveness in his eyes.
Before she could turn and run away, the tall, muscular man on her back had already bent down.
He placed his palm against her lower back and kissed her soft lips.
Lin Rong's beautiful eyes widened instantly, speechless.
She caught a whiff of a long-lost, bitter sandalwood scent, rich and alluring, mixed with a wicked, bloodthirsty aroma. It was almost imperceptible, penetrating every nook and cranny, exploding in her mouth and nose, filling all her senses.
Pei Zan gently bit her lips, his slender fingers lightly pinching Lin Rong's waist.
Even the slightest caress from the calloused fingertips caused Lin Rong's back to itch, and she subconsciously opened her mouth to breathe softly.
Pei Zan took the opportunity to pry open her teeth and thrust his tongue in, entangling it with Lin Rong's delicate tongue.
Pei Zan's tongue was hot and wet, sliding across Lin Rong's teeth, grinding against the veins beneath her tongue, making her tongue feel sore and weak.
He seemed to crave Lin Rong so much that he couldn't get enough of her. He not only lingered with her lips and tongue, but also swallowed all the saliva from her mouth.
Pei Zan kissed him deeply and intensely, even his prominent Adam's apple bobbing, as if trying to make up for the unsatisfied desire that had festered for five years since their separation.
Pei Zan's distinct black hair flowed like water, lying across Lin Rong's slightly exposed, delicate white collarbone.
He pinned Lin Rong against the wall, leaning over her like a mountain crashing down on her.
Pei Zan was tall and imposing. He put one arm around Lin Rong's waist, making her stand on tiptoe helplessly, while his other hand braced against the wall, the veins on the back of his hand throbbing, thus trapping her in the corner of the room.
Pei Zan cut off all of Lin Rong's escape routes, forcing her to cater to him, feel him, and accept him.
From a distance, all that could be seen were the woman's two small hands, like fragile flower branches and delicate lotus petals, pitifully clinging to Pei Zan's strong shoulders.
Then Lin Rong was completely obscured, submerged, and swallowed up by the man's figure.
Pei Zan's desires were consistently persistent, and Lin Rong knew his unruly nature well; even a simple kiss could be so brutal.
Lin Rong felt the large hand kneading her soft flesh at her waist and abdomen, and knew something was wrong.
If we let him continue kissing like this, the consequences will be unimaginable.
Unable to bear Pei Zan's enthusiasm any longer, Lin Rong, in a daze, instinctively reached out and threw him down hard.
Snap!
A sudden, sharp slap rang out on Pei Zan's face.
Pei Zan's head was knocked to the side by the slap, and a little blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.
While he was still in a daze, Lin Rong finally managed to squeeze out and catch her breath.
The moment Lin Rong looked up, she was surprised to see a group of people who had suddenly appeared in the guesthouse.
There were Western Wei imperial guards, King Mengti, and cavalry from the Kingdom of Kucha...
The group arrived at an inopportune moment, just in time to witness the noble monarch of Western Wei being slapped hard across the face by the woman in his arms.
They were all dumbfounded, even slowing their breathing, afraid that if they saw Pei Zan's ugly behavior, he would kill them to silence them.
Before Lin Rong could say anything, Pei Zan had already heard the commotion. He pressed Lin Rong back into his arms, turned his back to everyone, and coldly barked, "Get out!"
"Yes, yes! We'll leave now, we'll leave now!" The Western Wei official and King Mengti hurriedly made a "retreat" gesture and led the people out of the guesthouse with trepidation.
The room was quiet, with only Lin Rong and Pei Zan remaining.
Lin Rong felt anxious and uneasy. She stared at her sore palms and remained silent for a long time.
She made Pei Zan lose face in front of everyone. Will Pei Zan kill her with his sword?
After all, in Lin Rong's impression, Pei Zan was a good person when he wasn't provoked, but once he got angry, he would definitely fight to the death.
Five years have passed, and this man's temper hasn't improved at all...
Pei Zan's madness gradually subsided after his wife slapped him.
He endured the slight pain on his face, and then, with his eyes lowered, he saw the several strands of Bodhi prayer beads wrapped around Lin Rong's wrist.
The wooden beads had a dark, lustery sheen; they were the string he had given to Lin Rong to protect her unborn child.
She still kept the gifts he gave her.
All of Pei Zan's irritability and frustration vanished the moment he saw the prayer beads.
Little did they know that Lin Rong's prayer beads were simply a sign of her devotion to Buddhism in the small Western Regions country. Even though she didn't usually chant scriptures or observe vegetarianism, she would still put on an act of reverence for the gods to blend in with the local people.
Pei Zan still held Lin Rong in his arms. His strong arms made Lin Rong feel like a caged bird, unable to break free from his shackles.
Ignoring the blood at the corner of his mouth, Pei Zan asked coldly, "Lin Rong, I've been looking for you for five whole years. Where have you been?"
Lin Rong knew perfectly well that if things didn't come to a conclusion today, Pei Zan would definitely not let her go.
Lin Rong's palms were sweaty. She suppressed her trembling and patiently explained, "I was attacked and fell off a cliff in the past, but was rescued by a caravan from Kucha, and that's how I ended up in the Western Regions..."
Upon learning that Lin Rong was lucky enough to escape unscathed, Pei Zan's bitterness and pain finally subsided somewhat.
He lowered his head, embraced Lin Rong, and pressed her into his arms. Only by being skin to skin and blood to blood with her could he dispel some of Pei Zan's regret and fear, and extinguish the heat surging in his veins.
Lin Rong was really not used to Pei Zan's clingy embrace; she could hardly breathe.
Lin Rong sighed and called out softly, "Your Majesty, please let go of me first."
That cry of "Your Majesty" finally brought Pei Zan back to his senses.
Lin Rong knew that he had become the ruler of Western Wei; she was not ignorant of the ways of the world.
She knew that Pei Zan had a strong army and a capital in Liangzhou, and was capable of protecting her, but she still hid in the small kingdom of Kucha and refused to go home.
To avoid Pei Zan, she refused to set foot back in Wei, preferring to retreat to a small country in the Western Regions and spend her life wandering abroad!
She disliked him...
At that moment, Pei Zan felt as if Lin Rong had crushed his heart with her bare hands, tearing flesh and bone between her fingers, leaving it bleeding profusely.
For the first time in his life, Pei Zan experienced the pain of having his heart ripped out. He hated his own sharpness and his own lack of resolve, allowing himself to be manipulated by a woman... However, it was undeniable that Pei Zan was overjoyed to learn that Lin Rong was alive. He was grateful that she was still alive.
Pei Zan didn't know what to do with Lin Rong. He tried his best to remain calm and said to her in a low voice, "Yu Nu can't be without her mother, and I can't be without my wife. The world is not peaceful now, and I will never let you stay in the Western Regions and risk your life... Lin Rong, I don't blame you for leaving us, father and son, for five years, as long as you come back with me."
"No way!" Lin Rong refused almost decisively.
She had barely finished speaking when she felt Pei Zan's cold, sharp gaze sweep over her, and felt a lingering fear.
Lin Rong's life is comfortable and free now. She doesn't want to leave the Western Regions, nor does she want to be trapped in high walls by Pei Zan again and be bound by those dogmatic rules and etiquette.
Indeed, Lin Rong missed Pei Jiashu, and she also longed to see her son.
But Lin Rong may not only have the option of returning to the palace... Perhaps she could stay outside the palace, see Yu Nu from time to time, and fulfill her duties as a mother.
Pei Zan is the ruler of a country; if Pei Zan gives his permission, nothing is impossible.
However, Pei Zan was enraged by Lin Rong's unthinking resistance, and he couldn't understand why Lin Rong was like this.
The only possibility is that she has other things on her mind.
Pei Zan's voice was deep and fierce as he pressed on, "Why? Could it be that you remarried and have children after five years away, and you can't let go of them?!"
Pei Zan suppressed the jealousy that had once made him laugh, and like an ordinary mortal, he indulged in wild thoughts and suspicions.
Upon having this idea, Pei Zan felt consumed by jealousy and was filled with murderous intent.
"Either divorce him, or I'll kill him and make you a widow... Lin Rong, come home with me." Pei Zan's thin lips were tightly pressed together, his gaze cold and ruthless.
Pei Zan was not joking; he gripped Lin Rong's wrist tightly, refusing to let go no matter what.
Lin Rong suppressed her utterly terrifying fear. She was afraid that Pei Zan would harm her relatives and friends indiscriminately, but she also felt a pang of pity for Pei Zan, who was on the verge of collapse.
Before she could say anything nice to appease the furious man in front of her, the door of the inn was suddenly kicked open by a group of men.
It turned out to be Yang Feng and his group who had rushed over after hearing the news!
Shop owners who knew Lin Rong heard her cries for help and quickly went to ask Yang Feng and others to come to her rescue.
But by sheer coincidence, the two men bumped into each other!
The moment Pei Zan saw Yang Feng, his dark pupils contracted sharply, and he felt a mouthful of metallic taste rise in his throat.
He scoffed coldly, his tone venomous: "Lin Rong, you've gotten involved with Yang Feng? After escaping danger, you refused to return to Western Wei. You abandoned me and Yu Nu for five years, all to elope with him?!"
At this moment, not only Pei Zan, but even Lin Rong was shocked.
She recalled everything about Yumen Village, Yang Feng's helpless cries of pain, and the blood and bone pierced by those long swords... She watched as Pei Zan's slender fingers hooked onto the long sword tucked at his waist, and quickly embraced his narrow waist, holding the man tightly.
"Young Master! You've misunderstood! Brother Yang and I are truly innocent!"
As daylight filtered into the dimly lit inn, Yang Feng saw the dried bloodstains on the ground belonging to a Northern Rong man, and guessed what was going on.
He sighed, lifted his robe and knelt down: "This humble subject Yang Feng greets Your Majesty. This humble subject and Miss Lin are indeed only like brothers and sisters. If you are really angry... kill me, but please do not humiliate Miss Lin."
Looking at Yang Feng kneeling so readily, Lin Rong felt a surge of guilt, and her nose stung with tears. She had dragged her friend down again...
To his surprise, Lin Rong's tearful appearance only fueled Pei Zan's rage, making his heart burn like fire.
Lin Rong was clearly worried about Yang Feng!
She was deeply worried about a stranger, fearing that Pei Zan might kill him with a knife.
If Pei Zan really kills Yang Feng, Lin Rong will probably hate him to death!
Upon hearing Yang Feng's earnest words about "humiliating Lin Rong," Pei Zan's eyes burned with hatred. He had been reunited with his wife after a long separation, and he was overjoyed to have her back. How could he possibly kill her?!
Pei Zan knew that Yang Feng was using a feigned retreat to gain Lin Rong's sympathy and pity. It was hateful that his wife was so foolish as to be deceived by such a scheming man...
Pei Zan suppressed the bitterness welling up in his heart. Even though he wanted to tear Yang Feng to pieces, he could only suppress it with difficulty. He was always shrewd and decisive, and he would not cut off his own escape route... He would have a result with Lin Rong. He could not let Lin Rong get tired of him and leave him again.
Pei Zan didn't want to lose Lin Rong again.
Pei Zan's silent demeanor made Lin Rong uneasy.
But Lin Rong knew that in the current chaotic situation, only she could suppress Pei Zan's murderous intent.
Lin Rong raised her hand and carefully touched Pei Zan's cheek, which bore the marks of his fingers. She asked tenderly, "Young Master, does it hurt?"
Lin Rong looked up, her almond-shaped eyes shimmering with tears, and the only figure reflected in them was Pei Zan.
Pei Zan slowly released his long fingers from the sword hilt. He lowered his eyes and pondered for a moment before picking up Lin Rong and carrying her onto Mo Yu's horse in a show of defiance.
"I'll take you to see Yu Nu."
Pei Zan wrapped one arm around Lin Rong's slender waist and took the reins with the other, staring intently at Yang Feng as if asserting his ownership.
Lin Rong knew that refusing Pei Zan at this moment would be unwise.
She had to save Yang Feng and the others' lives, but she shouldn't disobey Pei Zan. Besides, she had been away from Pei Jiashu for five years and really wanted to see her son.
After thinking it over, Lin Rong said loudly to Yang Feng, "Brother Yang, I'll be away for a few days. Could you please look after Sesame and Rhubarb for me?"
She paused, then tentatively added, "But after I see Yu Nu... I will return to the Kingdom of Kucha."
Upon hearing this, Pei Zan remained silent with a gloomy expression, but he did not refute it.
As long as Lin Rong goes back with him, as long as Lin Rong is willing to be close to him and his son.
Pei Zan was willing to make some concessions on other matters.
Author's Note: If you prefer a tragic ending, you can stop reading in the earlier chapters. The story will gradually develop into a happy ending. Please don't keep hoping for a tragic ending while reading, as it will affect the story. Thank you very much, and everyone can take what they want!
A man who has lost his wife for five years is bound to go crazy...
Pei Zan: In my thirty years of life, this is the first time I've seen such a manipulative male mistress. It's a shame my wife is so obtuse; she's completely fooled by him.
Let's release this first so everyone can get a taste =3= We'll continue writing.
And here's some information that I thought didn't need explaining, but I'll explain it anyway: the iron and steel smelting technology in the Western Regions used to be quite advanced.
The following information is from the search result for "[hug]".
Zhang Qian's mission to the Western Regions was a major historical event during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Western Han Dynasty, with a profound impact on the Han Dynasty. Zhang Qian's mission was to, on the orders of Emperor Wu, unite with the Yuezhi to resist the Xiongnu.
After Zhang Qian returned, he brought back a package from the Western Regions. This package proved to be very useful. With it, the Western Han Dynasty immediately became the dominant power, and the swords they created were invincible, completely defeating the Xiongnu.
This material was excellent and the Han Dynasty had no shortage of it, but they didn't know how to utilize it. Zhang Qian brought back carbon powder from the Western Regions, along with the technology to smelt "refined steel." Before Zhang Qian's mission to the Western Regions, the quality of steel smelted by the Han Dynasty was not very good, resulting in mediocre weapons, especially swords, which were prone to breaking and chipping after prolonged combat. After Zhang Qian brought back a packet of carbon powder from the Western Regions, the Western Han Dynasty began smelting refined steel.
Fine steel was a superior type of steel in ancient times, described in ancient poems. Tang Dynasty poet Lu Guimeng wrote in his poem "Replying to Senior Xi Mei's Poem": "Fine steel is not sharp enough, why bother chasing after a swift hook?" Song Dynasty writer Wen Ying wrote in Volume 8 of "Jade Pot Talks": "A beautiful rough stone, though unfinished, is still a treasure; fine steel would rather break than be made into a hook." The characteristics of fine steel are that it never fades, does not deform, has good toughness, and high hardness, making swords and knives forged from it extremely sharp.
Actually, refining high-quality steel is quite simple; it involves adding an appropriate amount of carbon powder to ordinary steel, which is what we now call carbon-added steel. The proportion of carbon added must be just right; too much carbon makes the steel brittle, and too little makes it soft. (And so on.)
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