Chapter 561 Truly Gone
That night, he had held Sister An in his arms, sleeping soundly and peacefully. Even in his dreams, he was smiling, as if he had found the most precious treasure in the world. The night seemed short, and by the time he woke up, dawn was just breaking. He lazily turned over, and the woolen fur that had been draped over him fell off, letting in a slight chill.
At some point, Lin Wanrong's clothes had been removed. Looking at his bare chest and arms, he chuckled in a daze, "Master Sister, I was sleeping so well, why did you take off my clothes?"
He yawned and reached out to embrace the person next to him, but immediately felt something was amiss. His eyes snapped open. The space beside him was empty, with only a faint fragrance lingering in the tent. There was no sign of An Biru. A foreboding feeling surged in his heart, and he jumped out of bed without even bothering to dress, pulling back the tent curtain and shouting, "Master Sister, where are you? I'm scared, please come back!"
The horizon was just beginning to lighten, and the dawn camp was silent. His shouts echoed everywhere, attracting curious glances from the soldiers. They looked at him with strange expressions, as if they wanted to laugh but didn't dare.
Thinking that it was his bare chest that had shocked everyone, Lin Wanrong didn't care and kept calling out for Sister An. But her figure, like the stars of the previous night, had disappeared with the dawn.
"The stars are beautiful, but they can only shine at night—"
"Don't worry, even if you chase me with a blade, I won't leave today. After all, you owe me so much—"
Every word and smile of An Biru came back to him. It turned out that every word and smile of Sister An had a deeper meaning. Lin Wanrong shook his head in regret. Love made people old. Would this unpredictable Sister An take his life?
He reluctantly returned to the tent. A faint scent entered his nostrils, the fragrance of An Biru. Recalling the previous night when they cuddled together, her exquisite figure, captivating laughter, and charming face all seemed to have vanished by morning, like a dream.A chill came from his bare upper body. The silk thread that had been tied around them the previous night to prevent Sister An from leaving without notice was gone, and even his clothes were missing.
Every time he competed with Sister An, he never came out on top. Lin Wanrong smiled bitterly and shook his head. Glancing around, he noticed a brand-new robe neatly folded at the head of the bed, emitting a faint fragrance. He didn't know what material the robe was made of, but it felt soft and weightless. Wearing it felt warm and fragrant, extremely comfortable.
Underneath the robe was a white note. A few delicate words caught his eye: "Little brother, since you dared to tie my clothes, I took yours off. We're even. Hehe. I took your clothes to prevent other women from taking them off in the future, ruining your integrity."
So it was Sister An who had taken off his clothes. He wondered if she had taken any advantage of the situation. Lin Wanrong read the note with a mix of surprise and joy. His heart felt both sweet and sour, and he quickly wiped the corners of his eyes before continuing to read.
"Last night, I slept wonderfully for the first time in years. I didn't do anything, didn't think about anything. I was enveloped in an embrace as wide and comforting as a teddy bear's. The bed was small, but it was warm, and I love being held by the teddy bear."
An Biru deftly drew a charming smile on the paper, a spitting image of her own. Looking at this vivid countenance, Lin Wanrong felt like smiling. But his nose tingled with emotion. Had he actually become the teddy bear for An Biru, this cunning fox of a woman? Was he really that adorable?
"The only downside was that, little teddy bear, you're incredibly foolish when you sleep. With a beauty like me beside you, you slept like a log, completely unaware that I was undressing you. I was quite annoyed. So while I was at it, I took some liberties. Don't complain; you can take your turn next time," she wrote with a chuckle.
"I have to go back to the Miao Village. This time I sneaked down the mountain, leaving behind my ninety-nine beaus. Who knows what the village has turned into? Everything around you has been properly arranged, so proceed without worry; no one will harm you. Remember my words, be cautious of that foreign woman. I'll wait for you at the Miao Village, linked by our shared secrets and spots. You better not be late, or I'll favor one of my ninety-nine beaus each day. Like you, I'm an honest person who never lies. Tee-hee. One last advantage—A handwritten note from Master Sister."
At the words "one last advantage," there was a fresh red lip print on the white letter paper. The faint fragrance that wafted into his nostrils was as intoxicating as flower dew, leaving him nostalgic. Imagining An Biru's red lips lightly touching the paper, Lin Wanrong's heart burned like fire. He wished he could transform into that piece of paper, savoring the sweet kisses of the captivating An Biru.
Her note was both serious and playful, filled with a sincerity she couldn't hide. It was like a bubbling stream cascading from a mountain, clear and pure, washing over him.
He hadn't expected An Biru to leave so suddenly. She came and went like a refreshing spring breeze on the grasslands—gone in a blink, but leaving behind the deepest emotions and unforgettable memories.
Staring at the red lip print on the paper, Lin Wanrong sighed softly, mumbling, "Master Sister, you always take advantage of me and then leave. Where in the world can you find such an easy deal?—I'll take advantage of you too, and you won't even be able to resist, heh heh."
He kissed the red lips on the paper. The sweet scent lingered on his lips.
A soft chuckle came from outside the tent, followed by a seductive voice, "So this is what you mean by 'can't resist.' I've never seen you this cheeky before. What were you up to last night that made you so well-behaved?"
The voice was unmistakably familiar. Lin Wanrong sprang up as if jabbed with a needle, "Master Sister, you haven't left?"
Dashing out of the tent, he saw a white figure swiftly fading into the distance. Judging by that graceful silhouette, who else could it be but An Biru?
She moved incredibly fast, as if she didn't want him to catch up at all. Seeing the distance between them grow, Lin Wanrong, in his desperation, stopped in his tracks. Clearing his throat, he shouted at the top of his lungs, "Master Sister, I miss you. I miss you—"
An Biru's figure quivered ever so slightly, her steps slowing down. After a long hesitation, she finally turned around, her captivating face adorned with a sweet smile. Her clear eyes shimmered, filled with glistening tears.
"Little brother," she chuckled and waved vigorously, her tears falling like rain. "Remember the way to Miao Village; I'll be waiting for you there. You must come, okay? I have to go now. Don't look at me!"
…
"Master Sister!" Lin Wanrong shouted, ready to chase after her. An Biru met his gaze, smiled gently, turned, and in a flash, was hundreds of feet away.
"Sister An, I'll definitely find you. You have to wait for me! You must!" Lin Wanrong's angry roar echoed far and wide. As An Biru hurried away, she looked back at him, smiling faintly through her tear-blurred eyes. Her alluring figure transformed into a wisp of white smoke, gradually fading into the distance.
She had truly gone this time. Lin Wanrong stared dumbfounded at An Biru's retreating figure. He felt a sense of bitterness in his heart but was also somewhat relieved. Sister An had chosen not to leave without saying goodbye. Her hesitation outside the tent, her torn feelings between staying and leaving, all revealed her inner conflict and lingering affection.
If his previous farewell at Prince Cheng's mansion was filled with regret and heartache, this time it was completely different. It offered a deep sense of anticipation and hope. Even though there were tears, they were accompanied by smiles. Imagining the joy and laughter of reuniting with Sister An, Lin Wanrong was so moved he could barely contain himself. What would be the point of living if one did not cherish and love such a sentimental woman?
"Brother Lin. Brother Lin." A few low calls snapped Lin Wanrong out of his reverie. Turning his head, he saw Gao Qiu sizing him up, his eyes darting here and there. Next to Gao Qiu stood Hu Bugui, who looked at Lin Wanrong's face, sweat trickling down his forehead.
"Oh, Brother Gao, Brother Hu, you're back?" Lin Wanrong hurriedly wiped away the tears at the corners of his eyes and smiled.
"We're back, we're back," Gao Qiu said, grinning as he stared at Lin Wanrong's cheeks. He spoke mysteriously, "Too bad we came back late and missed the wonderful drama."
Both Gao Qiu and Hu Bugui had met An Biru when they were fighting against the White Lotus Sect in Shandong. Although they had been far away from her, a divine being like An Biru was impossible to forget once seen. Lin Wanrong waved it off, saying, "It's just a sorrowful farewell. What exciting drama are you talking about? You both are just making fun of me."
Gao Qiu winked and chuckled, "Brother Lin, you're too modest. Farewells may be sad, but they can also be quite enchanting. Someone with your romantic fortune is something others couldn't enjoy in eight lifetimes."
Seeing Gao Qiu speak so mysteriously and Hu Bugui also turning to snicker, Lin Wanrong was puzzled. "What do you mean by 'enchanting,' Brother Gao? I don't understand!"
Hu Bugui was more straightforward. He ordered someone to bring a basin of clear water and smiled, "General, please look!"
The water was crystal clear, reflecting Lin Wanrong's face. His hair was neatly tied back, his face cleanly shaven, looking exceptionally dashing. However, on each cheek, there was a small, bright red lipstick mark. As the water rippled, the marks seemed to wobble, like a vibrant little mouth silently speaking.
Lin Wanrong was stunned for a moment. ‘So, this was how Sister An took advantage of me. When had she left this mark? And how had I slept through it?’ Filled with regret, he gently touched his cheek, oscillating between joy and sorrow, as if An Biru's teasing and vexing expression had vividly reappeared before his eyes.
"Brother Lin, you should wash up," Old Gao said with a sly smile. "Otherwise, what will Yueya’er think? She might cause an uproar!"
‘What do I care about that Turkic woman!’ Lin Wanrong snorted. Recalling Sister An's parting glance and her silent tears, he clenched his teeth and pushed away the basin of water. "What's there to wash? I'll get used to it! In fact, I think I look rather handsome like this. Anyone who asks me to wash my face will hear it from me!"
Old Gao and Old Hu exchanged glances, finally bursting into laughter. ‘Brother Lin is really a romantic. If you have no shame, why should we care? The others have all seen it, and the laughter has subsided.’
Lin Wanrong carefully guarded his cheek and cautiously asked, "Brother Gao, how did your scouting turn out up front? Are there any Turkic tribes ahead?"
Old Gao chuckled, "We covered sixty to ninety miles yesterday. Along the way, we encountered a few small tribes, none larger than a thousand people—no threat to us. But according to reports from the scouts, there's a large Turkic tribe about two hundred miles away, called Chita. Apparently, it's one of the most prestigious Turkic tribes, with a peak population of over a hundred thousand. Many of the Turks attacking Helan Mountain come from there. There are still about twenty or thirty thousand left."
"I've heard of this Chita," Hu Bugui continued. "The Turkic Left Prince Batur comes from this tribe. They have a large number of warriors, are fond of raw meat, and are known as the strongest tribe on the grasslands."
Lin Wanrong waved his hand, "Two hundred miles is enough distance for us to maneuver. Chita is not our immediate concern. Right now, I'm most concerned about Ejina and Ha'er Helin. Brother Hu, how did you handle Heliye’s affair?"
At the mention of this, Hu Bugui gave a thumbs-up. "Brother Gao's medicine is as effective as rumored. Heliye collapsed on the outskirts of the Ha'er Helin tribe. He was discovered by the nomads in less than an hour."
"Really?" Lin Wanrong exclaimed, "Did they find the golden blade and the letter?"
Hu Bugui shook his head in awe, "General, you haven't witnessed the scene. The moment the Turkic people saw the golden blade and the letter, they were as agitated as if they had lost a father. They mobilized their army overnight, packed enough provisions, and two tribes—totaling six to seven thousand men—set off early in the morning."
Six to seven thousand men?! Lin Wanrong was speechless with astonishment. This would mean that all the fighting men from the two tribes had left. What could be so urgent that they'd abandon their homes?
The Turkic girl—Yujia!
The three men looked at each other and simultaneously took a deep breath.
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