Chapter 46: You can try Tao; he should be very strong.
Qin Song hadn't expected there to be such a large dense forest outside Yunzhou City; she had been thrown into this forest for almost two hours.
Guided by her memory, she kept walking back, hoping that if she could get out of this forest, she could thwart their scheme. But they had brought her in on horseback.
It took the four-legged horse more than half an hour to put her down. Even if she remembered the direction, it wouldn't be easy for her to walk back.
She roused herself and focused on her journey, pondering her purpose as she walked.
After separating from Tao Qingyang, she was drugged and abducted. When she woke up in the afternoon, she was locked in an abandoned house with her hands and feet bound and a wooden stick tied to her mouth, unable to make a sound or move.
Outside the dilapidated five-fold screen, the incomprehensible voices of the northern barbarians could be heard again. This conversation seemed to be going smoothly; they quickly reached a consensus and acted swiftly.
The curtain was pulled open, and Qin Song was roughly dragged out by a northern barbarian, who was about to send him out the door.
Stepping from the darkness into the light, the person at the door suddenly froze. "It's you?"
Qin Song was not surprised at all that Xue Ci, the prefect of Yunzhou who spoke the language of the Northern Barbarians and whose power had been completely usurped by her father, had actually colluded with the Northern Barbarians to kidnap his own people.
Qin Song stared at him expressionlessly.
His pupils contracted slightly, and he was momentarily stunned.
The northern barbarians standing nearby, not understanding the situation, began to mutter amongst themselves.
Xue Ci gradually recovered from his surprise. Since Qin Song had already discovered him, he stopped pretending and said directly in the Great Yu official language: "Adjust the plan. Send her deep into Chugou Forest. We must make our move before the other party sees her."
They didn't give Qin Song a chance to speak. After a brief discussion, they sent her here without saying a word.
With no one around, Qin Song wandered alone through the forest, which actually helped her figure out some of the key issues.
When Xue Ci saw her, he was quite surprised. It was clear that they had arrested the wrong person. For the northern barbarians who were unfamiliar with the government, arresting people could only be done by recognizing their characteristics, such as gender, clothing, and the attendants they were accompanied by.
Recalling the morning, she and Tao Yao changed clothes, and then she sent Chen Xing to Tao Yao. They probably followed the features and mistook her for Tao Yao, so they captured her.
Considering their repeated mentions of "Tao Qingyang" last time, everything makes sense; they wanted to use Tao Yao to coerce Tao Qingyang.
Without blood ties, Qin Song became a bargaining chip with little chance of winning. So Xue Ci changed his mind and released Qin Song into the mountains and forests, leaving bloodstains along the way. As long as Tao Qingyang took the bait and entered the forest, they could surround and shoot him.
Xue Ci's hasty departure was likely to inquire about Tao Yao's whereabouts and to create a false impression in order to lure Tao Qing into a trap.
Qin Song wasn't too worried about them targeting Tao Qingyang at first. After all, he had just learned a lesson from his subordinates' treason, so he wouldn't be careless. Moreover, he was very good at leading troops, and the Zhenbei Army was almost invincible. These vermin were simply delusional to think they could defeat him. In addition, with her father keeping a tight rein on things, they had no chance at all.
But she didn't expect that they would turn their attention to Tao Yao; it was truly a case of oversight despite careful planning.
According to their plan, the closer Qin Song got to the edge of the forest, the less confident he became.
There must be a lot of people lying in ambush outside the forest. They did this so that Tao Qingyang wouldn't be able to recognize who was inside, and that they would be sure he would do anything for his sister. But what if he found out that it was her, Qin Song?
Would he risk his life again?
But it would soon get dark, and forget about freezing to death in the wild; the sheer darkness of the forest would scare her to death.
Therefore, Xue Ci was certain that she was just a mere woman; if he left her in the wilderness, she would surely die without him having to lift a finger.
Right now, all she can do is gamble that Tao Qingyang will save her and that he can successfully resolve this predicament.
Almost there, she can already see a flat grassland ahead. If she walks a little further, she should be able to get out.
However, just as she lifted her foot, a sharp arrow shot out from outside the forest with a "whoosh," grazing her right ear and embedding itself firmly in the tree behind her.
My legs feel weak.
Qin Song swallowed hard, his already exhausted legs began to tremble.
This was a warning, a warning that she could not go any further, and even a push for her to return to the depths of the forest.
Qin Song was caught in a dilemma. A second arrow came flying at her, this time grazing her left shoulder.
I'm scared.
Qin Song obediently stepped back.
Forget it, maybe she should just hold on a little longer. If she can get through tonight, Tao Qingyang and the others should leave regardless of whether they win or lose, and then she can sneak out.
She cautiously retreated, and after retreating less than ten feet, she was almost overjoyed and wept.
Not outside the woods, but right behind her, a young man in red, riding a tall horse, carried a longbow on his back and held a long spear, coming alone from the other side of the woods.
He wasn't wearing a mask; his pale face was stained with a few drops of still-wet blood, which made his features appear even more alluring.
He pulled on the reins in front of Qin Song and helped him onto the horse: "Get on."
Qin Song rushed toward him without a second thought, but then he suddenly heard the sound of arrows whistling through the air behind him.
She clearly sensed that countless arrows were hurtling towards her, or rather, towards them.
She instinctively tried to crouch down, but fortunately the distance was far enough that the man on horseback swung his spear, blocking a volley of arrows, and then extended the butt of the spear towards Qin Song.
Qin Song immediately grabbed the handle of the gun.
The rider pulled her up onto the horse and she sat steadily in front of him.
The arrows continued to rain down, but Tao Qing raised his hand and swung his long spear, blocking wave after wave of attacks.
Qin Song's heart pounded faster and faster, but the number of incoming arrows kept decreasing.
The group of northern barbarians lurking in the shadows outside the woods stirred slightly, seemingly exhausted from having no arrows left.
A soft laugh came from behind, seemingly indifferent to everything in front of him. He spurred his horse, and the horse immediately galloped off, rushing out of the forest at top speed.
"Here you go." Tao Qingyang inserted the spear into the leather bag on the side of the horse while handing the reins to Qin Song.
He then reached behind his back, took out a longbow, nocked three arrows, and aimed at the movement outside the forest: "Watch closely, this is real mounted archery."
The way the person behind her wrapped their arms around her, nocked a bow and shot an arrow, seemed to encircle her in their arms, making her feel safe as her back pressed tightly against their chest.
Perhaps out of fear, the other person's hot breath fell on her neck, making her earlobes feel hot.
At this moment, Tao Qingyang suddenly pulled up her free hand and put it on the bowstring with him, saying, "Like this, aim, draw the bow, and release the arrow."
Three arrows were fired simultaneously, and behind three bushes, a patch of blood spread out.
Tao Qingyang didn't stop moving, taking another arrow and nocking it into the bow. He even patiently taught Qin Song how to raise the bow and aim.
The northern barbarians, having run out of arrows, leaped out of the shadows. A group of about fifty burly men emerged from both sides of the narrow path trodden by horses' hooves, shouting in a northern barbarian language that Qin Song couldn't understand, and charged towards them with knives in hand.
Tao Qingyang calmly launched a series of attacks. His horse ran extremely fast and soon arrived in front of them. Tao Qingyang then switched to a long spear, held the reins with Qin Song's hand, and taught her how to ride a horse while using the spear to defeat the enemy.
With a sharp tug on the reins, the horse's hooves rose high, leaping over the two people in front of it and bursting out of the forest.
The group chased after them again, shouting angrily. Qin Song couldn't understand a word they said, but Tao Qingyang struck up a conversation with them.
"Fool, the people on the other side of the woods are long dead."
"Saving people on the side, but mainly killing them."
He drew his arrows repeatedly, and every arrow hit its mark, quickly killing more than half of the northern barbarians.
After he ran out of arrows, he landed with his gun and swept away the group of fools who thought they had gotten away with it.
Blood was everywhere, and the smell of blood was pungent, but Qin Song didn't touch his nose. The man in front of him was so young to become the commander of the Zhenbei Army. It was no exaggeration to say that he was invincible.
As the last person fell to the ground, Tao Qing raised his spear upright, his exhaustion causing him to grip the handle to maintain his balance.
Qin Song quickly jumped off his horse and steadily supported him, "Are you alright?"
After the fierce fight, Tao Qingyang was breathing heavily. Before he could even speak, a loud, strange female voice came from afar, accompanied by the sound of horses' hooves.
"It's better if it's not good."
Tao Qingyang instinctively put his arm around Qin Song and looked at him warily.
"General Tao, your opponent is me."
As dusk began to fall, a small team of several dozen northern barbarians seized the opportunity to surround them, their horses' hooves kicking up a cloud of dust.
The speaker was a young woman from the northern barbarians with bronze skin, riding a tall white horse. She was at the head of the group, dressed in exotic deerskin fur, exuding a powerful aura and looking down at Qin Tao and his companion with an air of confidence.
Tao Qingyang gently turned the gun handle, preparing to strike again.
Qin Song pulled him back and asked in a low voice, "Who is she?"
He had just gone through a fierce battle and was clearly exhausted. In addition, the opponent had a large number of people, so it would be unwise to engage in a rash fight.
“The fifth princess of the Northern Barbarian Dynasty, Heyitu,” Tao Qingyang replied coldly.
He Yitu—Qin Song had seen this name before; it was in the files of the Yunzhou government office.
She is said to be the youngest daughter of the Northern Barbarian Khan, brave and resourceful, and more outstanding than her brothers in both courage and talent. It is just a pity that she is a girl, and she is always suppressed by her brothers whenever she shows her talent.
However, on the night of her wedding, her husband suddenly died in her bed. It is said that when the man was carried out, he was covered in blood and bruised all over, which became a scandal in the Northern Barbarian Royal Court. Later, He Yitu gradually disappeared in the Northern Border, and the Great Yu rarely heard any news about her.
As Qin Song was thinking, He Yitu quietly looked at Tao Qingyang and said, "General Tao didn't wear a mask today, allowing us to see his face. This trip was truly worthwhile."
Tao Qingyang's usual smile vanished completely, replaced by overwhelming hostility: "It doesn't matter to the dead."
"General Tao, do you still think you have a chance of winning?" Heyitu casually raised his hand, clearly demonstrating his absolute dominance in terms of physical strength and numbers.
Qin Song subtly hugged Tao Qing's arm, offering a reassuring gesture, and then continued, "General He, is it alright for you to address me like that?"
"Of course, I really like this title."
Qin Song said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "General He, it's getting late, we'll go with you."
Tao Qingyang clearly understood Qin Song's intention, and glanced at her slightly, signaling her not to act impulsively.
Qin Song patted him on the shoulder, signaling him to relax.
Heytu burst into laughter, and the soldiers behind him joined in with a chorus of laughter.
"Come with me? Where to? To seek refuge with my Northern Mulberry Imperial Court?"
The Northern Barbarians called themselves Sang, but the Dayu people uniformly referred to them as the Northern Barbarians.
Qin Song slowly explained: "It is to satisfy General He's needs."
General He, with your superior numbers, could have easily prevented these men from dying at General Tao's hands. But you waited until their entire army was wiped out before emerging, which shows you're not on their side. If you truly wanted to kill us, you wouldn't have wasted your breath talking to us. Therefore, if General He has any requests, perhaps we can discuss them.”
He Yitu stared intently at Qin Song for a while, then looked at Tao Qingyang: "Then how about I ask General Tao to spend the night with me?"
Tao Qing raised her eyes slightly, her face full of disdain.
Qin Song: "..."
"We can give it a try; he should be very strong."
Tao Qing looked up, her face darkening with anger and disbelief as she stared at Qin Song.
Qin Song pretended not to see it.
"Hahahaha. What's your name? I like you a lot."
Heyitu stared intently at Qin Song, spurring his horse a few steps closer to them.
"Qin Song, daughter of Qin Da, a scholar of the Great Yu Dynasty."
He Yitu's playful tone softened somewhat: "Are you the daughter of Qin Daoji, the chief minister of the Great Yu?"
"Exactly."
"Please, gentlemen."
·
He Yitu, using some unknown method, carved a small road between Yunzhou and Danzhou, leading directly to the northern border.
Qin Song and Tao Qingyang rode the same horses they had used to enter the northern border.
Upon entering Heyitu's tent, she ordered two attendants to serve Qin Tao and his companion, and served them food. Apart from their feet being bound, they were treated unlike prisoners.
That night, Heyitu returned to his tent, exhausted.
"Come on, General Tao, serve me." The tent was warm, and He Yitu took off her outer clothes as soon as she entered, wearing only a short and narrow top and trousers. She leaned against the tiger-skin chair, with one foot on the edge of the chair, a rather daring pose.
Qin Song and Tao Qingyang sat at the same low table. Qin Song didn't pay attention to Tao Qingyang's reaction; his gaze was fixed on He Yitu.
He Yitu has a great figure, and this outfit suits her perfectly. She hasn't experienced summer in Dayu yet, and she imagines that people there certainly won't be wearing such cool clothes, which makes her feel disappointed.
But Tao Qingyang, who was beside her, had a completely different mindset. He snorted coldly, "This general only knows how to use a knife."
Heyitu wasn't in a hurry. Like a battle-hardened old cat that had caught a beautiful mouse, he had plenty of patience to play with him. After laughing heartily, he clapped his hands towards the outside of the tent: "Then I'll teach you how to serve me with your body first."
As soon as he finished speaking, a strong but scantily clad young man walked into the tent and went to Heyitu with practiced ease...
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Author's Note: More happy moments with Xiao Liyu are coming soon! I haven't even properly taught the female lead's techniques yet [covering face and peeking]
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