After much deliberation, Li Zhanjue made his request hesitantly.
Can you give me a compliment?
Meng Qingluan was taken aback, but then blurted out her answer.
"Li Zhanjue, you are truly breathtakingly beautiful, brave and intelligent. There is no other man in the world as brave and courageous as you."
Li Zhanjue was initially puzzled by her first half of the compliment, but Meng Qingluan's second half immediately made him completely bewildered.
"Really? You're not lying to me?"
She can lie to him, as long as she doesn't expose him, he'll believe her.
"Really?" Meng Qingluan said sincerely, "Can I run now?"
"Um."
"Don't run! Stop right there!"
The chubby boy noticed Meng Qingluan's attempt to escape and kept yelling behind her.
Following Meng Qingluan's instructions, Li Zhanjue leaped forward.
In a moment of desperation, the chubby boy threw the Thunder Cannon with both hands, and it landed right at Meng Qingluan's feet.
Upon hearing the commotion, Meng Qingluan dared not delay for a moment and took a large step to fly out.
"Snap—"
Meng Qingluan's waist jerked, and her eyes widened.
Depend on!
Stepping on the wooden stick, her foot slipped, and Meng Qingluan fell backward, landing right on top of Pili Pao.
"..."
"No!"
Upon seeing this, Li Zhanjue shook off the chubby boy who was holding him and flew towards Meng Qingluan.
We're doomed...
…
Outside the gate, the iron armor was frosted over, and the burning campfire was chewing on the yak felt offered by the tribe.
The snow in the North kept falling, and the snowflakes scraped against my face like tiny knives.
Shen Yan stood outside the commander's tent, his cotton robe beneath his iron armor already frozen stiff, making a "crackling" sound with every step he took.
The camp was brightly lit inside and out, with only the howling wind remaining.
Soldiers with Central Plains features and tribal warriors stood around the fire, fully armed and ready to go, their scimitars gleaming in the firelight.
In the darkness, a dense mass of border troops stood silently, their spears forming a forest, the red tassels on their tips fluttering in the wind like undried blood.
"Lord Shen, it's already past 11:45 PM," a guard stepped forward and reminded him.
The man, who had been lost in thought, snapped out of it, subtly concealing the worry between his brows, and nodded slightly.
"Yes, at 11:15 AM sharp, we'll be ready for battle."
"yes!"
"..."
The guards withdrew.
"Lord Shen, it seems your Emperor is eager to take your head."
A man wearing a tiger-skin coat walked up to him and spoke as if in jest, his eyes filled with coldness.
"Eunuch Li, doesn't His Majesty know best whether he wants my head or to capture me alive and take me back?"
"Hahaha—Lord Shen, you are a smart man. I like working with smart people like you the most."
The man had a robust, burly appearance, narrow eyes, a high nose bridge, and a rough complexion reminiscent of a snowstorm.
"I will keep my promise. I will rescue your sister."
When his sister was mentioned, Eunuch Li's eyes froze, and the dampness in his eyes was quickly dried by the cold wind.
"I will lead the tribe to help you defeat the rebels."
"..."
The two stood in front of the tent, waiting for the appointed time.
In the stillness, a howl pierced the night sky, and white feathers, like sharp blades, tore through the darkness, carrying frost and snow as they flew swiftly in.
Many people were drawn by the noise and looked up to see the long eagle clearly.
Shen Yan's brows furrowed, and he extended his right arm. The eagle extended its claws, grabbed his arm, and landed steadily.
"What's wrong, Bai Yu?"
As soon as Bai Yu landed, Chen Yan asked impatiently.
He did not bring Bai Yu with him on this trip to the northern border, so that he could leave it with Meng Qingluan.
Fortunately, Bai Yu was able to arrive in time to tell her when she was in danger.
If it were any other matter, Bai Yu would have simply scared away the person who was bullying her; there would have been no need for such a fuss, for her to travel such a long distance to find him.
There's only one possibility...
—Meng Qingluan is in danger.
Bai Yu spun around, making incessant gurgling noises, before finally collapsing limply to the ground as if falling.
Shen Yan's appearance grew increasingly grim under Bai Yu's actions, and when he saw the final fall, the color drained from his face instantly.
"What is it saying? What's wrong with you?"
Seeing his expression change drastically, Eunuch Li quickly stepped forward and asked.
"Prepare the horses."
Shen Yan didn't answer him; his voice was frighteningly hoarse.
Eunuch Li hurriedly said, "The attack on the city must begin at midnight—"
"I said, prepare the horses!"
Chen Yan's words were resolute, brooking no refusal whatsoever.
Eunuch Li stood in front of him, refusing to back down. His sister's life and death, as well as the safety of the tribal warriors, were at stake, and he would not yield.
Chen Yan took a deep breath and said coldly.
"Get out of the way! I will never break my promise."
Before Eunuch Li could speak, Chen Yan pushed him away.
Upon hearing his command, the personal guards that Shen Yan brought had already prepared their horses.
He mounted his horse, and before the soldiers could even see him clearly, Shen Yan had already galloped out of the camp gate.
Armor still on, bow and sword untied, Chen Yan lay sprawled on horseback, whipping the horse wildly, the north wind stinging his eyes—
She absolutely cannot get into trouble.
If something happens to her, what use is this empire, or revenge?
wrong!
She will definitely win, she will persevere, and she will turn the tide.
He should trust her.
She can.
Hopefully, that burden of Li Zhanjue won't hold her back...
Shen Yan rode at full speed and finally arrived at the location given by Bai Yu.
It was a small, dilapidated two-story house.
There was no movement inside, nor any smell of blood, only a faint smell of burning...
Could it be...?
"Bang—"
As soon as Shen Yan dismounted, a huge explosion rang out, making his eardrums ache.
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