010 Moved

Ouyang Ke’s eyes lit up, his mind stirred. Ignoring Tuolei, he smiled lightly and said, “I, Young Master Ouyang, am a man of my word. Once spoken, there is no turning back. However, he may leave; Miss Huazheng, you must stay.”

“Very well.”

Cheng Lingsu had anticipated that he would not easily relent. This was fortunate — she alone could engage Ouyang Ke and seek a way to escape. With Tuolei present, there was inevitably some restraint in her heart. So, before he could utter any more nonsense, she directly agreed.

Ouyang Ke did not expect her to accept so quickly and laughed heartily. “That’s more like it. Without that troublesome distraction, we can have a proper conversation.”

Cheng Lingsu ignored him, turning her back. She took a handkerchief embroidered with blue flowers from her bosom, shook it lightly in the air, and tied it over the shattered tiger’s paw tendon on Tuolei’s hand. Then she returned the two blue flowers to her bosom. After briefly explaining the situation to Tuolei, she urged him to return first.

Tuolei’s face darkened. He stepped back twice, suddenly drawing the single-edged saber planted at his feet. Fixing his gaze on Ouyang Ke’s direction, he struck fiercely into the empty air before himself. “Your martial skills are superior; I am no match for you. But today, by the name of Temujin’s son, I swear before the Sky God of the steppes: once I have exterminated those who conspired against my father, I shall settle the score with you! To avenge my sister, and to show you what true heroes of the steppe are!”

As the son of a Mongol tribal leader, Tuolei was humble and loyal, unlike Dushi, who was arrogant and disdainful. Yet his pride was no less intense. He was Temujin’s favorite son, fully aware of his father’s grand ambitions. He sought to help his father turn every corner of the blue sky into Mongol pastures!

For this goal, he had trained in the military since childhood without delay. Yet, after years of hard training, he had fallen into enemy hands and, today, had failed to bring his sister safely back. Tuolei knew Cheng Lingsu was right; he should prioritize his father’s safety and swiftly return to muster troops to aid the ambushed Temujin. But the thought of his sister being forcibly detained here filled his heart with unbearable shame, nearly choking his breath.

The Mongols valued promises above all, especially oaths sworn before the revered Sky God. Though he knew he could not best Ouyang Ke in combat, his oath was resolute and sincere. His words were imbued with fervor and spirit. Though no martial master, his broad shoulders bore a kingly aura identical to Temujin’s, imposing and commanding—even Ouyang Ke, who did not fully grasp the meaning, was secretly taken aback.

Cheng Lingsu felt a warmth in her heart, as if the blood of Temujin’s daughter within her also sensed Tuolei’s resolve and bitterness. A rushing tide surged within her, causing her eyes to glisten with unshed tears. Calmly turning to block the direction from which Ouyang Ke might strike, she murmured, “Go quickly, hurry back. I will find a way to escape.”

Tuolei nodded, took two steps forward, embraced her, then without another glance at Ouyang Ke, turned and dashed toward the camp gate.

On the way, several guards tried to stop him as he fled the camp, but each was cut down by a single stroke of his saber.

***

Only when she saw Tuolei seize a horse at the edge of the camp and gallop away did Cheng Lingsu finally relax, sighing softly.

In her previous life, her master—the Poison Hand Medicine King—used poisons to make medicines and heal the sick. Yet he firmly believed in karma and reincarnation, eventually turning to Buddhism in old age to cultivate a heart free from hatred and joy. Cheng Lingsu was his late disciple and deeply influenced by his teachings. Though she had died in that cycle of life and death, she had been sent here once more. She could not help but believe that fate had other designs.

Originally, she wished to avoid entanglement with the people and affairs of this world. She had even hoped to find an opportunity to escape far away—to return to the shores of Dongting Lake and see what the White Horse Temple looked like centuries later. Perhaps she would open a small clinic, heal the sick, and live out her days cherishing the memories and deep affections for that one person.

Moreover, if Temujin were in peril, the Mongol tribe she had lived with for ten years would also suffer. Her mother and brother, who had cared for and raised her, along with the people she saw every day, would all be endangered. After ten years together, how could she stand idly by?

With these thoughts, Cheng Lingsu sighed softly again.

Seeing her lost in thought, gazing after Tuolei’s departing figure and sighing repeatedly, Ouyang Ke raised his chin and sneered coldly, “What’s wrong? So reluctant to part?”

Having caught the implication in his words, Cheng Lingsu frowned, snapped back to reality, and blurted, “I’m worried about my brother. Shouldn’t I be?”

“Oh? He’s your brother?” Ouyang Ke raised an eyebrow, a flicker of amusement passing through his eyes. “Then... was that young man before him your lover?”

“What nonsense are you spouting...” Cheng Lingsu stopped abruptly, realizing, “You mean Guo Jing? You’ve known since... even before we arrived?”

“Not them—you! The moment you came, I knew.” Ouyang Ke was quite pleased, clearly enjoying her reaction.

Although Cheng Lingsu had dismounted far away, his profound inner strength and keen hearing far surpassed ordinary Mongol soldiers. He had detected her the instant she infiltrated the camp. Just as he was about to reveal himself, he saw Ma Yu step forth and escort both her and Guo Jing out.

His uncle, Ouyang Feng, had suffered a major defeat at the hands of the Quanzhen Sect, so the Western Venom lineage always harbored resentment and wariness toward Quanzhen Taoists. Recognizing Ma Yu’s Daoist robe and recalling his uncle’s past warnings, Ouyang Ke abandoned the idea of revealing himself. Instead, he hid in the shadows, watching their exchanges back and forth.

He had thought Cheng Lingsu might persuade Ma Yu to storm the camp and rescue someone. Unaware Ma Yu was the sect leader of Quanzhen, he reckoned that besides the thousands of soldiers, Wanyan Honglie and several martial masters would be enough to detain Ma Yu. Perhaps he could even eliminate him, reducing Quanzhen’s leadership by one. Yet he never expected that the Daoist would not storm the camp but would instead leave with Guo Jing, leaving Cheng Lingsu behind.

Gradually, Cheng Lingsu pieced together the puzzle: “Wanyan Honglie’s secret arrival here must be to provoke trouble between Sangkun and my father, stirring strife among the Mongol tribes, so the Jin Dynasty can be free of northern threats.”

Ouyang Ke was indifferent to such strife, but seeing Cheng Lingsu speak seriously, he nodded and praised, “Your insight is truly sharp.”

Brushing aside the strands of hair scattered by the wind, Cheng Lingsu’s eyes were as clear as the Wulan River on the steppe. “You are Wanyan Honglie’s man, yet you let Guo Jing go to deliver a warning. Now you also let Tuolei go to rally troops. Aren’t you afraid of spoiling his grand plan?”

Ouyang Ke laughed heartily. Reaching out, he lightly tapped her chin with a slender fan. “Afraid? What does his plan have to do with me? If winning a lady’s smile is the prize, what does it matter?”

Cheng Lingsu did not smile. Instead, she furrowed her brow, stepping back half a pace to avoid the fan’s gentle stroke against her chin. She reached out and snapped the black-tipped fan from his hand. A chill passed through her palm, seeping straight to the bone, forcing her to nearly release it immediately. She then realized the fan’s ribs were forged from mysterious black iron, cold as ice.

“What? Do you like this fan?” Ouyang Ke feigned casualness, flicking his wrist to reclaim it. He opened it with a snap and gently waved it before him. “If you fancy something else, I wouldn’t mind giving it to you. But this fan...” He paused briefly, then smiled softly. “If you like it, just stay by my side from now on, and you’ll see it anytime you wish...”

Author’s note: I say, Ke Ke, isn’t it clear that Miss Lingsu likes your fan and is reluctant to part with it? So stingy~

Ouyang Ke: But that was given to me by my father… cough cough… uncle…