Chapter Forty-Nine: Swords in Disarray, Wine Pointing to the Heart's Gate
"Highly skilled in martial arts?" Yang Xiao murmured belatedly, slowly raising her head to look at Bai Ming, then squinting as if unaccustomed to the bright light. "How does she compare to me? And how does she compare to you?"
Bai Ming quickly reached out to support Yang Xiao, feeling both amused and exasperated. "Xiao, you..."
"Call her out and let's have a match!" Yang Xiao seemed to suddenly get interested, raised her hand and pointed behind Bai Ming, but because she lost her balance, she fell into Bai Ming's arms again.
She shoved Bai Ming in the chest, straightened up, and looked at him defiantly. "You're reluctant to let her fight me?" She gave a light "humph." "Then you fight me, come on!"
As she spoke, she raised her hand to touch her sword, but she swung her arm back two steps, leaned against the table, and raised her right hand to touch her right hip, but found nothing.
"That's not right..." she said disbelievingly, reaching for her waist again. "Where's my sword?"
Seeing this, Bai Ming quickly ran over and gently helped Yang Xiao up. He then raised his hand to press down on the sword tucked into her left hip, frowning as he looked at her. "Lingyu, don't look for the sword. Be careful not to hurt yourself..."
"Did you steal my sword?" Yang Xiao looked up at Bai Ming, tilting her drowsy head as if all the martial arts world in her mind was about to spill out.
"I didn't..." Before Bai Ming could react, he heard a "whoosh" as Yang Xiao drew the sword from Bai Ming's waist, startling Bai Ming into taking two steps back.
"Let's go, let's go outside and fight, I won't tear down the house." Yang Xiao seemed to still have a sliver of reason left, and she staggered towards the door, carrying Bai Ming's sword.
Bai Ming frowned and hurriedly chased after him. When he got to the door, he realized that his sword had already been taken by Yang Xiao. He didn't care about anything else, turned around and went straight to Zhong Lishuo. He pulled out the sword from Zhong Lishuo's waist and ran towards the door.
"Huh?" Zhong Lishuo, who had been watching the commotion, didn't react for a moment. He looked down at his empty sword sheath, then turned to look at Cen Xun, shook his head and smiled wryly, "Look at this guy."
Yang Xiao, carrying the sword, staggered back and forth in the moonlight. Seeing Bai Ming chasing after her, she couldn't help but use the sword as a support, then smiled and pointed it at Bai Ming, "Come on! Let's have a little spar!"
Seeing this, Bai Ming quickly ran forward with his sword drawn, saying, "Lingyu, it's cold outside. You've just been drinking, be careful not to catch a cold!"
Yang Xiao snorted lightly, completely ignoring Bai Ming. She twirled the sword in her hand, stared intently at Bai Ming, smiled gently, and then attacked him with her sword.
She was already agile, and with the added intoxication, her swordplay became even more unorthodox. Her steps were unsteady, and the sword in her hand danced haphazardly like scattered red petals, yet under the moonlight, it possessed an indescribable elegance.
Bai Ming frowned and walked towards Yang Xiao, dodging her sudden attack. Taking advantage of a moment of weakness in her movements, he raised his sword and flicked the sword in her hand.
With a clang, the sword fell to the ground, shattering the moonlight. Yang Xiao also lost her balance and dodged forward, only to be tightly embraced by Bai Ming who was coming from the opposite direction.
The sudden warmth in the cold wind made Yang Xiao shiver. Seeing this, Bai Ming could only carefully tighten his arms and look at Yang Xiao in his arms with worry in his eyes.
Bai Ming had long forgotten all rules and regulations. He raised his hand and gently touched Yang Xiao's forehead, then bent down and picked her up in his arms. He took three steps at a time and stepped into the tent. He then helped her lean against the wall and placed his arm under her neck.
Yang Xiao felt a sudden dizziness. She closed her eyes, shook her muddled head, and then looked at Bai Ming as if waking from a dream. She reached out and put her hand on his forearm. "Hey? I can fly? Did you see me?"
The few words Bai Ming was about to say to comfort her were suddenly choked in his throat. He stared at Yang Xiao in a daze for a moment, then shook his head with a light laugh, "I saw it, you can fly."
Qi Kun, who had come over upon hearing the sound, immediately laughed, "Who can fly?"
Bai Ming smiled as he looked at Yang Xiao, who was resting her head on his arm, and his cheeks flushed again.
"I knew she had a low alcohol tolerance, but I never imagined it would be this bad," Qi Kun leaned down and smiled at the dazed Yang Xiao, then nodded to Bai Ming beside him. "You've really had a lot of trouble tonight, Zhao Qing. You just met with the envoy from Nanyang with the lord, and this is what happened."
Before he finished speaking, Cen Xun brought over the hangover soup that Mu Fei had hastily prepared in a pot. He glanced at Yang Xiao, who was leaning against the wall, and couldn't help but shake his head with a smile.
“It’s my fault too,” Cen Xun said, placing the soup on the table and rubbing Yang Xiao’s head. “Knowing she never drinks alcohol, I still insisted on making her break the rule.”
Yang Xiao, who had just fallen asleep, was rubbed by Cen Xun and had to let out a long yawn. Then, she opened her sleepy eyes and looked at Cen Xun, "Hmm? Tongxi?" She then leaned her head back on Bai Ming's arm and looked back at him, "Is it dawn?"
Everyone couldn't help but laugh at the sight. Cen Xun shook his head and coaxed softly, "It's not dawn yet. Drink some hangover soup before you go to sleep, or you'll have a headache tomorrow."
Yang Xiao nodded her heavy head, then seemed to suddenly remember something and perked up. She grasped Cen Xun's hand, leaned forward, and looked at her with eyes full of grievance, "Tongxi, let me tell you, Bai Ming, he already has..."
Cen Xun was startled by what he heard and quickly pointed his index finger at Yang Xiao's lips, making her swallow back her words in a daze.
Bai Ming immediately understood the meaning. He exchanged a glance with Cen Xun, then looked helplessly at Yang Xiao and gently pressed her shoulder.
“Lingyu, you really don’t understand social etiquette,” Cen Xun chuckled and shook his head, raising his hand to pat Yang Xiao’s head. “You’re still resting your head on Zhao Qing’s arm, how come you’re already talking badly about her?”
Yang Xiao's mouth was suddenly released. She frowned, crossed her arms, and "humphed" before leaning back against Bai Ming's shoulder.
Bai Ming's breath hitched, and his half-arm, which had been hanging there, suddenly didn't know where to land. So he could only hang there motionless, without the slightest hint of resentment.
“Lingyu, you,” Cen Xun chuckled and shook his head, holding the hangover soup in his hand, “drink the soup quickly, go back and rest. If you keep this up, Zhaoqing’s arm will be too numb to hold a gun.”
Seeing this, Bai Ming immediately laughed, "I'm fine, it's Lingyu who's the problem."
"Fine, I'll drink it," Yang Xiaoyi said, propping herself up on her arms and sitting up. She put the spoon that Cen Xun had picked up into the bowl, lifted the bowl, and drank the soup in one gulp.
“Lingyu, slow down, be careful not to spill it,” Cen Xun quickly raised his hand to help her. Looking at Yang Xiao’s imposing manner, he couldn’t help but shake his head with a helpless smile. “I won’t dare let you drink alcohol in the future.”
Yang Xiao finished her soup and slammed the bowl on the table. She wiped her mouth with her hand, then looked up at Cen Xun with a stubborn expression, pointing defiantly at the bowl beside her, "Look, no! No spillage!"
Before Cen Xun could say anything, Yang Xiao, looking dejected, leaned her head on Bai Ming's arm and said, "Tell me, how could he..."
"Ayama! Shhh!"
Bai Ming looked down at her slightly furrowed brows and tightly closed eyes, and a pang of sadness welled up in his heart.
"Ah Xiao..." He had no way to refute, so he could only call out softly. He carefully put his arm around Yang Xiao's shoulder, and the mixed feelings in his heart finally turned into a soft sigh, which flowed out from his lips and nose.
"Don't think about it anymore, don't think about it anymore," Cen Xun patted Yang Xiao's head gently, coaxing her. "If you're still worried, I'll bring him here tomorrow and explain everything to you clearly, okay?"
Qi Kun, who had been smiling silently to the side, also stood up and greeted Bai Ming, saying, "Thank you so much for your help tonight. I'll take her back in a bit. Zhao Qing, you should get some rest and don't worry about her."
"Don't worry, sir, I'm fine," Bai Ming nodded, bowed slightly as he stood up, then turned back to look at Yang Xiao with a smile, gently patting her shoulder. "Don't overthink it tonight, get some rest. I'll explain everything to you properly another day, okay?"
Qi Kun couldn't help but chuckle and shake his head. "This child," he looked up and nodded at Bai Ming. "Then I'll take her back. You should get some rest."
"Alright," Bai Ming nodded, cupped his fists at Qi Kun, and said, "Take care on your journey, strategist."
Cen Xun helped Yang Xiao onto Qi Kun's back, then turned to Bai Ming and nodded, "I'll go with Mr. Qi, so don't worry."
Watching the three gradually disappear, Zhong Lishuo, suppressing a laugh, walked over from a short distance away. He patted Bai Ming on the shoulder and chuckled, "What did you do with all the trouble she caused? Did you talk to her?"
“She did say that,” Bai Ming said, shaking his head with a smile as he watched the group’s retreating figures, “but it seems… she didn’t take it to heart.”
Zhong Lishuo also looked towards the door and couldn't help but laugh, "I wonder how much she'll remember when she wakes up tomorrow morning."
“Tomorrow…” Bai Ming closed his eyes and let out a long sigh, “I hope she doesn’t remember anything.”
"And what about you? When will you talk to her again?"
"I don't know." Bai Ming chuckled and shook his head. "However... I'll definitely have to say something later. Let me find another auspicious time to resolve the conflict in our hearts."
Zhong Lishuo put his arm around Bai Ming's shoulder and laughed, "When the time comes, remember to stop her and make sure she doesn't drink."
-
Yang Xiao lay drowsily on the bed, sneezed without realizing it, then turned over, hugged the blanket, and drifted off to sleep.
Her mind was a complete blank; she didn't know how she got on the horse or how she ended up on this bed. All she knew was that she had intended to confess her feelings to Bai Ming, but she lost consciousness the moment she grabbed him.
Later, it seemed that Cen Xun had given her something, and she spent the night in a daze.
A ray of sunlight pierced through the window, its soft glow falling on Yang Xiao's eyes. Her eyelashes trembled slightly at the morning light, and she subconsciously rubbed her eyes, letting out a long yawn.
As soon as she sat up on the edge of the bed, she suddenly felt dizzy. She couldn't help but raise her hand to her forehead and said "tsk", "Did someone beat me last night? It shouldn't be."
The soldier at the door seemed to sense the movement inside and gently knocked on Yang Xiao's door. "General, are you awake?"
Yang Xiao quickly dressed, then shook her head, ignoring her dizziness, and pushed open the door. She nodded to the soldier, "Did you call me for something?"
When the soldier saw her come out, he quickly clasped his hands in a fist and bowed to her. “Last night, when the strategist and Miss Cen brought you back, they instructed me to make sure you drink this bowl of pear soup when you wake up today.”
"Is that so?" Yang Xiao smiled as she sat down at the table, picked up the bowl of still-steaming pear soup, and stirred it gently.
"This soup was just made by Mu Fei, and you should drink it while it's hot." The soldier stood beside Yang Xiao and said softly, "You drank too much last night, and Mr. Qi and Miss Cen had to carry you back."
Yang Xiao picked up the soup, took a sip, and nodded. "Yes, last night was a victory celebration..." She looked at the soldier as if she had suddenly remembered something. "I drank too much? How much did I drink?"
"This..." the soldier couldn't help but smile, "I have no way of knowing."
Yang Xiao gave a wry smile, picked up the soup and shook her head, "I've really embarrassed myself in front of the whole army. Never mind," she took a sip of soup, raised her hand and called to the soldier, "Prepare my horse, I'm going to visit the lord."
The soldier nodded in agreement, "Yes."
Seeing the soldier leave, Yang Xiao looked at the clear and sweet pear soup and couldn't help but shake her head with a smile, "It's fortunate that Master and Tongxi brought me back, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to make any excuses."
She raised her hand and drank the pear soup in one gulp. When she stood up again, she felt much lighter, and her head was no longer as throbbing as before. She stepped into the courtyard, took the reins from a soldier, leaped onto her horse, nodded to the soldiers, and galloped towards the central command tent.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
