The deputy general, in particular, had his eyes redden instantly, tears welling up and almost spilling out.
He quickly took a deep breath, trying to suppress the turmoil in his heart, straightened his slightly disheveled clothes, and then bowed respectfully and solemnly.
With a slight tremor in his voice, he said, "It is an honor for a humble person like myself to see the face of King Zhao, and also for the eldest son and the second young lady."
"In the past, when the frost covered the fields, I was fortunate to receive General Lin's help, like a candle lit in the cold night or a spring flowing into a dried-up rut, which allowed my frail body to survive until now."
Qin Qianluo's gaze shifted, and when it fell upon the deputy general's tired and wounded body, her eyes instantly filled with deep concern and tenderness.
She moved with a light and graceful gait, as if the wind had sprung up around her, like a gentle breeze carrying the warmth of the spring sun, and in an instant, she drifted to the side of the deputy general.
Then, she slowly extended her slender and beautifully shaped hand, which was fair and strong, and her movements were so gentle that she seemed afraid of disturbing something.
Yet it carried an irresistible, unwavering strength, gently landing on the lieutenant's arm and steadily lifting him up.
The armor worn by the lieutenant was like a weathered history book, repeatedly tempered by the years and the flames of war, with dried bloodstains on every inch of its metal surface.
These bloodstains came in various shapes and sizes; some resembled a winding, frozen river meandering down from the shoulder; others looked like wildly splashing flowers blooming on the breastplate.
As if they were silent witnesses to countless fierce battles, their armor was etched with the cruelty and ruthlessness of war, telling the story of those breathtaking, life-or-death battles.
His hands and face were crisscrossed with scars, like the cracked lines of parched earth in a year of severe drought, a shocking sight.
It was treated in a very simple way; the crude bandages were wrapped haphazardly, and the seeping blood had already soaked the cloth red.
It exudes a faint yet heart-wrenching smell of blood.
Looking into his eyes, they were filled with a dense, intricate web of blood vessels, a vivid reflection of his tireless dedication and tireless efforts.
Every blood vessel seemed to tell the story of the immense pressure and exhaustion he had endured over the past few days.
His eyes revealed a deep weariness, yet a resolute flame still burned within them. Though dimmed by exhaustion, that flame never went out.
It was obvious at a glance that he had been like a string stretched to its limit, ready to snap at any moment, without a moment of peace or proper rest these past few days.
They maintained their spirits, like a tireless statue, always vigilant against any possible enemy invasion, guarding this war-torn land.
How could Qin Qianluo not see the hardships he had gone through and the immense pressure he had endured?
The lingering heartache in my heart was like fine stitches, intricately interwoven, yet surging and churning like a tidal wave within.
This heartache gripped her tightly, making her throat feel as if it were choked by a heavy boulder.
Every time I try to speak, I feel short of breath and can't utter a single harsh word.
Her lips trembled slightly, turning pale with heartache, and her eyes glistened with tears.
Tears glistened in the candlelight, as if they might burst forth at any moment.
She gently patted the lieutenant's hand; her palm was broad and warm, and the temperature of her palm seemed to carry endless comfort and strength.
The power flowed like a gentle stream, down the lieutenant's arm, slowly into his exhausted body, reaching deep into his heart, giving him comfort and encouragement.
She spoke, her voice soft yet firm, like the gentlest breeze in spring, carrying the vitality and hope of all things reviving, gently brushing across the earth.
Yet it carried an undeniable, majestic aura, as if it could dispel all the gloom in the world: "The north wind has stained our armor, and the journey has been arduous. I have seen all of the young general's hard work in guarding the border."
Now I have traveled day and night to reach you, and I temporarily borrow this watchtower as my refuge, entrusting you with the beacon fires and the frost.
Reinforcements arrived like wild geese returning from the horizon, and were expected to arrive soon.
When banners obscure the sky, we will surely crush the enemy camp to avenge my uncle's loyal soul and to comfort the soldiers and civilians on the frontier. This deep-seated hatred will one day be settled.
Upon hearing Qin Qianluo's words, the deputy general felt as if he had received a long-awaited rain in a desolate place. Every word seemed to carry immense force, striking heavily on his heart.
In an instant, his eyes were suddenly filled with scalding tears, turning as red as burning flames.
These tears were a cathartic release of the exhaustion and pressure he had accumulated over many days of struggling in the crucible of war.
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