Reign of the Phoenix

Chapter 40 – A Promise Worth a Thousand in Gold
In the distance, two horses, one black and one white, came into view on the main road. The black one was Flash who galloped at the front, while the white horse followed it. An armored man was riding the white horse, wearing a dark green cloth and a gold-rimmed eyepatch on his face and a halberd in his hand.

Tuoba Lan cried out in joy, “General Chiyun! Big sis, General Chiyun has returned!”

Before the words could reach Murong Zhining’s ears, she had already fainted in Tuoba Zhi’s arms.

Chiyun Yuexuan rushed over on horseback and reached out, wanting to hold Murong Zhining. Tuoba Zhi lifted her up in a princess carry and retreated one step. “General Chiyun, you want to bring Miss Murong away? You abandoned her on the roadside just a few days ago, and now you want to bring her away?”

Chiyun Yuexuan dismounted and cupped his fists respectfully, “My gratitude to Mister Tuoba for taking care of Miss Murong. I didn’t mean to leave her, I’ll explain to her in person.”

Tuoba Lan ran up to him and said, “It’s all good that General Chiyun has returned. Let’s all take big sis to Nanjin together.”

Chiyun Yuexuan hung his halberd on Flash, then approached Tuoba Zhi with a peremptory attitude. “Give Miss Murong to me, Mister Tuoba. Thank you for taking care of her the past few days.”

“When Miss Murong wakes up, she’ll decide whom she’ll go with.” Tuoba Zhi was neither servile nor overbearing in his reply. He ignored Chiyun Yuexuan and carefully carried Murong Zhining back to the horse carriage.

Lian Kun regained his wits from the shock and greeted Chiyun Yuexuan with cupped fists, “So you are General Chiyun they have been talking about? It’s an honor to meet you at last.”

Chiyun Yuexuan didn’t spare him even a glance, his face under the dark cloth was completely emotionless.

Having lost her way, Murong Zhining was traveling in a thick fog without a direction. Suddenly, a faint firelight appeared upfront. As she walked toward the light, the fog gradually dispersed and her view opened up.

Right in front of her were two vast flower fields put together. One red and one white, the fields’ colors drew a clear boundary between them. Murong Zhining came closer and realized that those were all lycoris, with the blood-red ones on the left field and the snow-white ones on the right field.

Chiyun Yuexuan, wearing a white silk scarf on his head, firmly but elegantly stood in the middle of the red lycoris field. Yan Feng, extremely handsome in a red dragon robe, was standing straight with his hands crossed behind his back amid the white field. Both were smiling at the sight of Murong Zhining as they extended their hands toward her.

Murong Zhining stood before a rope bridge leading to the flower fields, burning under it was blazing hellfire. She knew full well that no matter which side she went to, her result would still be falling into the abyss of beyond redemption. Yan Feng and Chiyun Yuexuan represented the two flowers of hell that she could not touch. However, there was no longer a way to retreat when Murong Zhining looked back. Behind her was a cliff, and under the cliff was surging lava.

With a frightened cry, Murong Zhining woke up from the dream.

Under the eyepatch, Chiyun Yuexuan’s charming eyes were extremely gentle as he gazed at Murong Zhining. “You’re awake. I said I would personally send you back to Nanjin, a promise is worth a thousand in gold.”

Tuoba Lan urgently pleaded, “Big sister is too weak to ride a horse. Please don’t take her away. Can’t we just travel together?”

Chiyun Yuexuan quietly nodded before he jumped off the horse carriage. Flash trotted to him and excitedly swayed its head. Chiyun Yuexuan lovingly caressed the steed for a long time.

Lian Kun curiously pulled on Tuoba Zhi and inquired about the relationship between Chiyun Yuexuan and Murong Zhining, but Tuoba Zhi was too lost in his own thoughts to respond. Chiyun Yuexuan walked over and once again cupped his fists toward Tuoba Zhi. “Thank you for taking care of Miss Murong the last several days, Mister Tuoba. May I trouble you to bring her to Nanjin with me?”

Tuoba Zhi also returned with a salute. “General Chiyun is too polite. You’re welcome to travel with us. It’s my blessing to be able to take care of Ning’er.”

Chiyun Yuexuan looked somewhat displeased. “When did you change the address, Mister Tuoba? Didn’t you call her ‘Miss Murong’ before?”

Tuoba Zhi raised his brows. “It was Ning’er who asked me to call her that. What? You have a problem when I address her that, General Chiyun? Perhaps… if you hadn’t put a mark on her, you would have been allowed to call her that as well.”

Chiyun Yuexuan clenched his hands into tight fists, his knuckles crackled resoundingly. His expression was like that of hell that made people tremble with fear. “You are not qualified to comment on my past. But since you have saved Miss Murong this time, I won’t dispute with you.”

Lian Kun hurriedly smoothed things over, “It’s my luck to protect Miss Murong alongside you on this trip. It’s the blessing of three lives.”

Chiyun Yuexuan cupped his fists toward him as a response.

Tuoba Zhi shouted toward the cavalcade, “Let’s hit the road!”

Riding Flash, Chiyun Yuexuan closely followed Murong Zhining’s carriage. It was obvious from Flash’s bobbing head, wagging tail and huffing nostrils that it was in especially high spirits. From behind the carriage, Chiyun Yuexuan spoke loudly, “Don’t you want to ask where I’ve been the past few days?”

Tuoba Lan lifted the back curtain in delight. “General, hurry and tell big sis about it.” She was actually the one more eager to know what had happened.

Murong Zhining’s eyes glistened with tears, but they remained on the scenery. “It’s all good that General is fine. Everything else doesn’t matter.”

His eyes filled to the brim with tenderness at her answer, Chiyun Yuexuan said, “In order to escort you to Nanjin, I went against the imperial edict. His Majesty got mad at me and sent out the capital’s four great Imperial Guards to lead troops and arrest me for punishment. They bullied me, who was wounded and unarmed, and used a big net to capture me. On the way back to Huayan, I found a chance to restrain them and escaped.”

Murong Zhining grew serious, “If so, His Majesty will keep sending people to capture you?”

Chiyun Yuexuan’s expression was unclear behind his mask. “I already had people deliver him a message, telling him I’ll return to accept my punishment after getting you to Nanjin safely. I think… His Majesty may remember our past relationship and agree.”

Tuoba Lan looked a Chiyun Yuexuan in veneration. “General Chiyun, why do you cover your face like this? It looks really mighty. Do you wear your mask on the battlefield as well?”

The corner of Chiyun Yuexuan’s lips slightly curled up into what seemed to be a smile. “The reason is quite embarrassing actually. When I first came out to fight, I didn’t have the habit of covering my face. The enemy often taunted me that I looked like a little lady, hahaha, so I had no choice but to become like this.”

Tuoba Lan despised, “What’s wrong with their eyes? General Chiyun clearly looks handsome and imposing. But! You do look more formidable when you cover your face.”

Chiyun Yuexuan seemed to be in a great mood and talked more than usual. On the contrary, Murong Zhining kept staring at the scenery outside the window without a word.

When the cavalcade stopped at an inn in the evening, Chiyun Yuexuan supported Murong Zhining off the carriage. Tuoba Zhi watched them from afar with an uncomfortable heart. Taking off his mask and eyepatch, Chiyun Yuexuan entered the inn, called the server, and arranged for the group as if he was the leader. He even went to the kitchen and personally cooked a pot of millet porridge for Murong Zhining.

At dinner, everybody was thinking their own thoughts while eating quietly. Tuoba Zhi broke the silence, “General Chiyun, do you have any plans after you deliver Miss Murong to Nanjin?”

Chiyun Yuexuan was detached as ever. “I didn’t expect that Mister Tuoba would concern yourself with me. What can I do now that I have already missed the most important thing in my life? As for the future, I have no plans.”

When Chiyun Yuexuan said this, his eyes were fixed on Murong Zhining like a drowning man trying to catch a straw. Ruthlessly, and much to his disappointment, Murong Zhining never once responded to his gaze.

After the meal, Chiyun Yuexuan led Flash out for a walk. The steed let out a loud neigh. Murong Zhining instantly understood that Flash was calling for her. It had come to regard both her and Chiyun Yuexuan as its masters.

Tuoba Lan tugged on Murong Zhining’s clothes. “Big sis, let’s go play with Flash.”

Murong Zhining gave her a weak smile. “I’m very tired today, so I won’t accompany you. You go. With General Chiyun there, Flash might just let you ride it alone.”

Hearing this, Tuoba Lan ran out of the room in excitement.

Tuoba Lan spotted Chiyun Yuexuan sitting alone on a big rock by the river, his figure cold and lonely. Flash was munching on the grass nearby and occasionally let out a low whiny.

“General Chiyun!” Tuoba Lan called out. Chiyun Yuexuan didn’t respond. She walked over and sat down not far from him. “Lan’er feels that General Chiyun and Big Sister Murong are meant for each other. But, how did you anger her?”

Chiyun Yuexuan threw some pebbles into the river. “The damage I have done to her is unforgivable.”

Tuoba Lan propped up her cheeks with her hands. “When I helped big sister bathe, I saw a brand on her back. She told me that she carelessly fell on the burning iron seal. But my brother insisted that you marked her. I don’t believe it, though. General Chiyun, I want you to tell me in person that it’s not true.”

Chiyun Yuexuan’s gaze fell into a distant place. Deep down in his eyes, one could see faint grief. “The damage I had done was not only this, but something even more cruel. I wounded her heart.”

Tuoba Lan burst into tears. “So it’s all true, that’s why big sister has been so unhappy. She is such a kind person, why did you want to hurt her?”

Chiyun Yuexuan remained silent. He didn’t know what to say to this question.

……

Tuoba Zhi turned the pages in a restless fashion. Lian Kun walked over and snatched the book, tossing it on the table. “Stop reading, I know you didn’t get anything into your head anyway. Just who is that General Chiyun? He seems to like Miss Murong very much. But from what I can see, Miss Murong is very cold to him.”

Tuoba Zhi was a little impatient. “Come now Brother Lian. Other people’s affairs have nothing to do with us. Stop bothering and stop worrying about it.”

Lian Kun stroked his chin in contemplation. “Brother Tuoba, could it be that you like Miss Murong, but you’re afraid of General Chiyun?”

Tuoba Zhi picked up the book from the table. “I like Miss Murong, yes, but I’m not afraid of anyone. I just know that someone of my status isn’t worthy of her. It’s useless no matter how much I like her.”

Lian Kun gasped, “There’s actually a girl in the capital that you, Tuoba Zhi, don’t dare to dream of? Could it be…? The empress is also surnamed Murong, so she’s a relative of the royal family at most. As long as she’s not a princess, your background can still be a match for hers.”

Tuoba sighed, “Have you ever heard that His Majesty once had a daughter? Because His Majesty dotes on her mother very much, he gave her the privilege of taking her mother’s surname. Unfortunately, the child was taken away from the palace when she was three and there has been no news ever since. Some time ago, my father heard from a friend that the lost princess was found in Huayan.”

Lian Kun was appalled. “Miss Murong is the princess of Shangxia? But even if she is, it’s not like you have no chance at all with your unrivalled wealth as your backing.”

Sunk in deep thoughts, Tuoba Zhi didn’t say anything.

When Tuoba Lan returned to the room, Murong Zhining was lying on her side, already asleep. Tuoba Lan gazed at her beautiful and gentle face. Her long eyelashes quivered ever so slightly, her brows furrowed as if disturbed by what she was seeing in her dreams.

Tuoba Lan softly shook Murong Zhining. “Are you having a nightmare again, big sis?”

Murong Zhining weakly opened her pretty almond eyes. They sparkled like stars, but pitifully covered by a layer of mist. “It wasn’t a nightmare, I just dreamed of my nanny.”

Tuoba Lan’s heart ached as she rested her head on Murong Zhining’s chest. “Big sis, you must be feeling so devastated. Can you confide in Lan’er? Don’t keep your thoughts inside. Do you know? You’ve been suffering from nightmares for the past few nights.”

Murong Zhining gently stroked Tuoba Lan’s hair. “Everyone has a scar in their heart that they don’t want to be revealed by others. I’m too weak to face my own scar. Please forgive me.” A tear streamed from the corner of her eye.

After Chiyun Yuexuan joined the team, the atmosphere grew heavy and everybody barely talked. Chiyun Yuexuan seemed to be more desolate than ever as he silently followed Murong Zhining’s carriage. Tuoba Lan tried to ignore him. She felt sad for Murong Zhining and also was angry at herself for having admired such a cruel man.

Murong Zhining, wearing a blue thin silk vest, was leaning on her side with a pad cushioning her waist. “Lan’er, you’re in a daze again? What are you thinking of?”

Tuoba Lan pursed her lips. “Even now, I’m still a bit in disbelief that General Chiyun is that type of person. Big sis, did you two, maybe, have some misunderstanding?” Saying so, she lifted the back curtain and took a quick look at Chiyun Yuexuan who was dressed in a casual black outfit and followed the carriage as he rode Flash.

Chiyun Yuexuan’s gaze pierced through the curtain and landed on Murong Zhining. Aside from a deep pain, they were also full of tenderness. Murong Zhining kept staring at the scenery. “It doesn’t matter anyway. After we arrive at Nanjin, we’ll be two irrelevant people that will never meet for the rest of our lives.”

Hearing these words, Chiyun Yuexuan tightly clenched on the reins, an unspeakable pain seemed to spill from his eyes.

All of a sudden, several horses rushed out from the end of the main road upfront. Forced to a stop, the team instantly stood ready.