Yan Ning quickly changed her clothes. Before leaving, she took a shadow puppet of a female immortal and placed it inside her clothes. The white lotus vanished with the wind; perhaps this was the only memory she had of Fukang'an.
She folded the clothes she had worn when she arrived and placed them together with the things Fukang'an had given her. She hoped that one quiet night, he might see these things and think of her, perhaps recalling a woman named Yan Ning from his past.
The important military tents and provisions were all located in the northwest corner of the camp, while Yan Ning's tent was in the southeast corner, very close to the council tent and the main gate. The few officers and soldiers left behind in the camp were also in the northwest corner, and the sounds of fighting and bugle calls filled the entire camp.
Taking advantage of the darkness and chaos, and because of her petite stature, Yan Ning easily evaded the sentries at the front camp and escaped the military camp.
While Fukang'an was away assisting Hailancha, You Yuanzhi and his followers launched a surprise attack on the military camp under Fukang'an's command, intending to destroy the army's supplies.
In the midst of the fierce battle, Fukang'an's voice rang out in the military camp.
"Capture them all alive!"
Before long, the number of soldiers in the camp increased several times over, completely surrounding You Yuanzhi and his followers.
You Yuanzhi narrowed his eyes and asked in confusion as he looked at Fukang'an, who had suddenly appeared in the military camp with his troops, "Fukang'an? Weren't you going to aid Hailancha?"
Fukang'an, on horseback, looked down at You Yuanzhi, his blue armor gleaming coldly.
"Haha... All land under heaven belongs to the emperor. Senggesang is an official of our Great Qing Dynasty. How could he associate with traitors and rebels?"
"Master, we've been tricked by Senggesang. It turns out he conspired with these Qing soldiers to ambush us," Temu said to You Yuanzhi. "We'll cover you; you go first."
You Yuanzhi gripped his longsword tightly, his eyes flashing fiercely as he glared at Fukang'an. "I brought you here, and I'll lead you out of here. Brothers, fight to the death! Kill!"
He first cut down a Qing soldier, boosting the morale of his men.
Under You Yuanzhi's leadership, despite being far outnumbered by the government troops, the White Lotus Sect only suffered some losses and broke through the encirclement.
"Chase!"
"Wait! No need to chase!" Fukang'an stopped the deputy general who was about to lead his men forward, his eyes becoming incredibly deep.
Despite the moonlight, Yan Ning stumbled along the way, and by the time she reached the route Zhao Xing had shown her to return to the capital, it was already dawn. Exhausted, hungry, and weary, Yan Ning was just about to sit down and rest when she heard the sound of horses' hooves approaching, and a large group of people came towards her.
Before she could hide, Yan Ning appeared before them. Afraid of being noticed, Yan Ning lowered her head and stood still.
The official told Senggesang, "Chief, that was a beautiful young woman just now."
Although the army had suffered a defeat, Senggesang's eyes lit up at the mention of the beautiful woman. "Stop!" he shouted, waving his hand to halt the advancing troops.
Senggesang instructed the steward, "Go and bring her back to the chieftain's residence."
Yan Ning saw the army that had just roared past stop again, and she inwardly cried out in alarm. She ran in the opposite direction from the army, but the steward grabbed her waist and put her on a horse.
"Let me go!"
Yan Ning's desperate resistance was drowned out by the clanging of hooves.
Seeing the numerous bunkers standing here, like a long city wall, many of which had already been destroyed by Fukang'an and his men, leaving only half-destroyed ruins.
Yan Ning was led into a camp nestled against the mountains and beside the water, where stone bunkers were everywhere, seemingly impregnable. She thought to herself, no wonder Fukang'an and his men had been unable to conquer it for so long.
Captured by the enemy and taken back to their camp, Yan Ning knew clearly what unbearable things she was about to face. Her heart pounded with the horse's hooves. Would Fukang'an come to rescue her?
Fukang'an stood at the entrance of Yan Ning's military tent, hesitating whether to go in. For the past two months, he had been busy with the war, and even when he had the chance to meet her, she was always indifferent to him. Many times, when he returned, she was already fast asleep, and even in her dreams, she had a sorrowful expression.
If it weren't for her, he wouldn't have taken such a risky step, using the White Lotus Sect to end the war as quickly as possible and bring her back to the capital. But how could she possibly understand his feelings?
Longing is the most tormenting emotion, yet Fukang'an still lifted the curtain.
"Someone come here!" Fukang'an was filled with fear upon seeing the empty military tent. "Where is Miss Yan Ning?"
“We have been guarding outside the door and have not seen Miss Yan Ning go out,” the guard replied.
"Where is she?" Fukang'an slammed his fist on the table.
"Yesterday, the White Lotus Sect attacked the camp, but Miss Yan Ning's tent was far from the granary, and there were sentries patrolling the front camp, so..."
"So you dare to disobey my orders? Men, bring the military rods." Fukang'an's anger was obvious at this moment. The guards kneeling below had never seen the general, who usually shared weal and woe with them, so angry that they were too frightened to say anything more.
Fukang'an checked Yan Ning's belongings and found that only one set of clothes was missing, which she was probably wearing; a shadow puppet of a female immortal was also missing; the clothes she wore when she came were also gone, which she must have left for him. All her secrets were in the capital, so she must have returned to the capital.
"Zhao Xing, lead a group of men to search carefully along the road back to the capital, leaving no stone unturned." The thought that this road was the only route Senggesang's defeated army would take, and that Senggesang was a notorious womanizer, filled Fukang'an with unprecedented fear.
"Take this beautiful woman to my room." Senggesang's eyes scanned Yan Ning's body, and Yan Ning felt a sense of humiliation. Senggesang's men tied Yan Ning's hands and feet and carried her to a room.
Yan Ning looked around in fear. Would Fukang'an come to save her? If he didn't, would she have to risk her life to protect her innocence? But what about her mother and younger brother?
The sound of footsteps coming from afar stung Yan Ning like sharp knives. Senggesang couldn't wait and kicked open the door. He had lived for decades and had never seen such a beautiful woman. Just thinking about it made him drool.
Senggesang looked at Yan Ning greedily, "Beautiful lady, I can't wait any longer."
Yan Ning couldn't bear to live a life of shame after being humiliated; for her, her innocence was far more important than life itself. "If you dare to do anything to me, I'll die in front of you."
Yan Ning hoped that threatening him with her life would have an effect.
Senggesang's thick beard twitched, which Yan Ning found utterly disgusting. "Hey, what's the point of dying? Live well and enjoy wealth and luxury with me. I'll definitely treat you well."
As Senggesang spoke, he began to tear at Yan Ning's clothes. When Yan Ning realized that her words had no effect on her, she slammed her head against the wall, and instantly, blood streamed down her face.
Senggesang was so frightened that he took a few steps back, then said angrily, "Don't be ungrateful. Few women who fall into my hands can escape. If you obediently serve me well, I will guarantee you wealth and honor; if you insist on living a life of luxury, let me tell you, even if you die, I will make sure you die a filthy death." As he spoke, he began to tear at Yan Ning's clothes again.
At this moment, Yan Ning was already dizzy and disoriented from the impact, and all she wanted was to die.
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