Dawn, like a shy maiden, cautiously lifted the veil of night, casting its soft light upon the battle-stricken town of Panshi. The smoke of battle lingered, and the stench of blood mixed with the smell of burning permeated the chilly air, telling tales of the previous night's carnage. The bodies had been partially cleared, but the dark red bloodstains and broken weapons on the ground remained a horrifying sight.
Su Nian barely slept a wink all night, her mind and body numb with extreme exhaustion. She sat by the low wall, wrapping her thin clothes tighter around herself, watching the soldiers silently clean up the battlefield, treat the wounded, and repair the damaged fortifications. A heavy, sorrowful mood enveloped her.
This is war, regardless of right or wrong, only survival and death. And she, a soul from another world, has been drawn into it, her hands seemingly indirectly stained with blood as well.
Helian Jue appeared outside the command post. He had changed into a clean black leather armor, and the bloodstains on his face had been wiped away, but the murderous aura between his brows was heavier than ever. His gaze swept across the battlefield, finally landing on Su Nian, who was huddled against the low wall.
He strode over, his heavy leather boots landing silently on the blood-stained earth, carrying immense pressure.
Su Nian wanted to get up and bow, but he stopped her by raising his hand.
He stopped in front of her, his tall figure blocking the rising sun and casting a shadow. He looked down at her, at her pale, tired face, at the lingering fear in her eyes, and at that fragile resilience that seemed so out of place in this cruel environment.
"Are you scared?" he asked, his voice hoarse from a night of screaming, but his tone betrayed no emotion.
Su Nian raised her head and met his deep eyes. Gone was the cold killing intent from last night's fierce battle, and the unfathomable probing gaze; instead, there was a... almost calm scrutiny.
She shook her head gently, then nodded, her voice a little hoarse: "A little... but more than that... it's uncomfortable."
She didn't hide her true feelings. Pretense was pointless in front of such an insightful man.
Helian Jue seemed unsurprised by her answer. He remained silent for a moment, then suddenly reached out his hand.
Su Nian instinctively shrank back.
His hand paused in mid-air, then slowly fell, not to touch her, but to pick up the stone she had picked up in her haste the night before and used to throw it. The stone was still stained with a little dark red blood and ash.
He fiddled with the stone, his gaze falling once again on Su Nian's face.
“Last night,” he began slowly, each word crystal clear, “you saved me twice.”
One was the torch signal amidst the chaos of flag signals, and the other was the precise throw of the giant stone man before detonating the explosives.
Su Nian's heart clenched slightly, and she lowered her eyelashes: "This servant... only acted in a moment of panic..."
“Whether it was in a hurry or not,” Helian Jue interrupted her, his tone leaving no room for doubt, “that’s the fact.”
He casually tossed the stone aside, making a soft "thud".
“I said it, and I’ve remembered it.” He looked into her eyes, his gaze carrying a tangible weight. “Now, it’s time to fulfill my promise.”
Helian Jue's so-called "deliverance" was neither gold and silver treasures nor power and status.
His first action was to swiftly purge the internal traitors.
The arsonist of the granary was quickly identified as a low-ranking logistics officer in the military town, bribed by the remnants of the Kumoti forces to create chaos. Helian Jue didn't even interrogate him; in front of the entire army, he executed him along with several captured assassins who had resisted. This bloody act once again shocked everyone and greatly enhanced the cohesion of the military town.
Subsequently, he personally participated in the treatment and compensation of the wounded. He went among the injured soldiers, checked their injuries, inquired about their difficulties, and even personally fed water to a seriously wounded young soldier. These actions, which were vastly different from his usual cold and ruthless image, silently won the genuine support of many more rank-and-file soldiers.
Su Nian watched all of this silently. She realized that Helian Jue wasn't completely oblivious to people's hearts; he simply preferred to control things in the most direct and effective way. And when he was willing to lower himself and show a touch of "humanity," the effect was far more powerful than mere intimidation.
She also helped out in the wounded soldiers' camp. Using her limited medical knowledge and a packet of emergency medicine powder, she cleaned, stopped, and bandaged the wounds of some soldiers whose injuries weren't too serious. Her movements were gentle, and her voice was mild, contrasting with the rough environment around her, yet strangely, she calmed the restless emotions of many wounded soldiers caused by pain. The way some soldiers looked at her gradually changed from initial curiosity and a little disdain to gratitude and trust.
After finishing his military affairs, Tuoba Ye specifically sought out Su Nian, clasped his hands in a respectful bow, and said solemnly, "Miss Su, we owe you a great debt last night. If it weren't for your timely reminder of the signal and... that crucial strike, the consequences would have been unimaginable. I, Tuoba Ye, on behalf of the brothers of Panshi Military Town, thank you!"
The veteran, known for his toughness, looked on with genuine admiration.
Su Nian quickly returned the greeting: "General, you flatter me. I was just doing my duty."
She knew that after this battle, she had initially established herself in this border garrison.
After resting for three days in Panshi Military Town and handling the follow-up matters, Helian Jue ordered the return journey.
The atmosphere on the way back to the royal court was completely different from when they arrived. Although they remained silent, there was less probing and repression, and more of a solemnity born from having experienced life and death, and... a tacit understanding that was hard to put into words.
Helian Jue no longer rode in the carriage, but instead rode horses with the soldiers. Su Nian remained in the carriage, but Helian Jue seemed to intentionally or unintentionally keep the group's speed within a range that the carriage could easily keep up with.
When setting up camp at night, Su Nian's tent was placed in a location that was neither too close nor too far from the king's tent, ensuring safety without being too conspicuous. One night, Batu even brought her a small bag of roasted venison, which was said to have been hunted by Helian Jue.
Su Nian looked at the bag of venison, which emitted an enticing aroma, and felt a mix of emotions. This kind of subtle care made her more uneasy than any reward.
[Host, the target's favorability rating continues to rise! Based on behavioral pattern analysis, this is a typical marking and domestication behavior after 'claiming ownership'! He's starting to include you in his protective sphere!] 088's analysis was very insightful. [However, Host, you were really different last night in the wounded soldiers' camp. That gentle yet resilient aura even moved this system!]
Su Nian: '...Shut up and go eat your data stream.'
She wasn't unmoved. Helian Jue was as complex as an obscure ancient book. He was violent, suspicious, and treated human life like dirt; yet he was also powerful, perceptive, and in some ways even...just? Especially when it came to the soldiers who followed him and shed their blood for him.
She began to unconsciously analyze the logic behind his behavior, trying to understand the root cause of his becoming a "tyrant." This kind of inquiry itself implies a certain degree of emotional investment.
That evening, the team set up camp in a sheltered valley. Su Nian sat on a large rock, using the last rays of daylight to revise a draft of an improved border beacon tower system.
Helian Jue walked over at some point and sat down on the rock next to her. He didn't look at the sketch in her hand, but instead gazed at the huge setting sun about to sink below the horizon at the mouth of the valley.
The afterglow of the setting sun bathed his sharply defined profile in a warm golden light, softening some of his cold and hard aura.
The two sat there quietly, neither speaking. Only the sound of the wind and the faint sounds of the distant camp could be heard.
After a long while, Helian Jue suddenly spoke, his voice low and deep, as if talking to himself, or perhaps speaking to her:
"When I was a child, I was also a slave."
Su Nian suddenly looked up at him, shocked. This was the first time he had brought up his past on his own initiative!
Helian Jue didn't look at her, still gazing at the sunset, his eyes somewhat distant, carrying a hint of...coldness that was barely perceptible.
"Built and sold like livestock, scramble for food in the mud like wild dogs." His tone was calm, as if he were telling someone else's story. "To survive, you have to be ruthless and stronger than everyone else."
Su Nian felt as if something was clenching her heart. She finally understood where his deep-seated insecurity and extreme pursuit of power came from.
“So,” he turned to look at Su Nian, the light of the setting sun dancing in his eyes, reflecting a complex and unfathomable light, “I trust no one but the sword in my hand and… the power I can grasp.”
His gaze fell on Su Nian's face, with an almost cruel honesty: "Right now, you make me feel... perhaps, I can still believe in something else."
Su Nian's heart pounded wildly, almost bursting out of her chest. What...did he mean by that?
Just then, a guard rushed over, breaking the delicate atmosphere.
"Your Majesty, an urgent report from the royal court!"
Helian Jue's eyes instantly regained their usual cold and sharp look. He stood up, took the parchment scroll handed to him by the guard, and quickly scanned it.
Su Nian saw that his brows gradually furrowed and his face darkened.
"Understood." He put away the parchment, his tone revealing neither joy nor anger. "Pass down the order: depart an hour earlier tomorrow morning and return to the royal court at full speed."
"Yes!" The guard accepted the order and left.
Helian Jue stood still for a moment, then turned to look at Su Nian, who was still sitting on the rock.
“Madam Lan,” he uttered the name, his voice carrying a chilling murderous intent, “attempted to contact her former subordinates and break her out of prison.”
Su Nian was startled. Madam Lan had indeed resorted to desperate measures!
Helian Jue looked at her with deep eyes, as if he was assessing something or making an important decision.
“After we return,” he said slowly, “you will assist Batu in trying the Kumoti case.”
Collaborative trial?! To involve her in the purge of Kumoti and the forces behind Madam Lan?!
This was no longer a matter of trust; it practically pushed her directly into the eye of the storm, placing her in a position of direct confrontation with those traditional aristocratic forces!
Su Nian stared blankly at him, at the unwavering determination in his eyes, and at the deep, unspoken resolve that bound her to him completely, a resolve that even he himself might not have realized.
He was using this method to firmly bind her to his chariot, leaving her no way out.
The sun finally sank completely, and the valley was shrouded in twilight.
In the deepening darkness of the night, Helian Jue's figure appeared even taller and more unfathomable.
He glanced at Su Nian one last time, then turned and walked with steady steps toward the royal tent, where the lights were just beginning to illuminate the night.
Su Nian sat alone on the cold stone, watching his figure disappear into the tent, her heart churning with turbulent emotions.
She knew that upon returning to the royal court, she would face a war far more dangerous and a greater test of human nature than the border battles.
And she, perhaps... no longer wants to withdraw.
(End of Chapter 110)
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