Chapter 0079: Dog Bandit

Chapter 0079: Dog Bandit

The two of them silently stared at each other. Xiao Rong bit his lower lip, and when he finally released it, Qu Yunmie naturally noticed that his lips were as vividly red as blood.

Those lips moved, still coldly saying, "I'm tired."

Qu Yunmie: "Do you want to go back and rest?"

Xiao Rong slightly lowered his eyes, nodded, and then stepped outwards.

His leg muscles trembled, and with the effects of alcohol, Xiao Rong could barely walk straight, his steps always wobbly. But his attention wasn't entirely on his feet; he warily watched Qu Yunmie following him, ready to slap his hand away if he tried to support him.

However, Qu Yunmie didn't touch him at all. He remained quietly behind, taking a step whenever Xiao Rong did, positioning himself on the side where Xiao Rong swayed to prevent him from falling.

On the pebbled path, two elongated and distorted shadows overlapped, the smaller one always enveloped within the larger one, blending together like water and milk.

Though it was still the tail end of summer, the nights had already turned cool. A single layer of clothing was not enough; an outer garment was needed for comfort. Ah Shu held the outer robe Chen's family had made for Xiao Rong recently, stomping his feet to ward off mosquitoes while craning his neck to look outside, wondering when Xiao Rong would return.

Finally, Xiao Rong appeared in Ah Shu's sight. Ah Shu was delighted and about to run over, but then he saw the large shadow trailing behind Xiao Rong. ... Ugh, The King is here again.

Xiao Rong's face looked somewhat abnormal. As he passed Ah Shu, Ah Shu caught a faint whiff of alcohol. Just as he widened his eyes in surprise, the next moment, everything blurred, and his arm felt empty.

The outer robe he was holding was naturally taken by Qu Yunmie, who shook it out gently, took an extra step, and draped it over Xiao Rong's shoulders. Xiao Rong glanced at the newly added garment and the hands adjusting it.

But he said nothing, paused briefly, and then looked ahead again.

In a blink, the two entered Xiao Rong's bedroom, leaving Ah Shu standing in the cool breeze, feeling a bit unhappy.

"Hmph." Annoying...

If sober, Xiao Rong would definitely take a bath before bed, but now his mind was hazy. He felt angry, agitated, and a strong yet unfamiliar emotion, like a startled zebra charging through his heart, impossible to ignore.

Inside, he felt like a boiling kettle, but outwardly, he remained silent, the only oddity being that he couldn't stop staring at whatever Qu Yunmie did.

Qu Yunmie didn't have anyone bring in a hangover soup. Though he hadn't thought it through, he subconsciously didn't want anyone to disturb their night. So he simply poured Xiao Rong a cup of clear tea, handed him the teacup, sat down beside Xiao Rong's bed, reached out to grip his calf, and removed his shoes.

If Qu Yunmie was as strong as an ox, then Xiao Rong, before his illness, was as graceful as a deer. Among dancers, Xiao Rong was tall, barely meeting the height requirement for auditions. To improve his physique and turn his weakness into a strength, Xiao Rong had put in a lot of effort.

What Xiao Rong was most proud of wasn't his face but his legs. He knew they were exceptionally long, even compared to models. If not for his weak upper arm strength, he would have focused on ballet.

Later, his intense weightlifting was also aimed at compensating for this shortcoming. Although heaven had already favored Xiao Rong with many talents and advantages, as he often said, he was a very vain person who couldn't stand any weakness. So he obsessively tried to eliminate his flaws.

But now he had a massive flaw that wouldn't go away anytime soon, and this flaw was currently holding his most prized possession, staring at it for a long time.

Xiao Rong: "..."

He pursed his lips and quickly pulled his leg back. With his hands now empty, Qu Yunmie looked up and saw Xiao Rong glaring at him warily.

Qu Yunmie paused, then asked calmly, "Not going to sleep?"

Xiao Rong: "I can't sleep with you here."

For some reason, Qu Yunmie actually chuckled, "So, you want me to leave?"

Xiao Rong: "..."

He fell silent again.

The room grew quiet. One of the candles flickered as its wick broke, causing the flame to dance violently. Time seemed to solidify, reminding Xiao Rong that this night wouldn't linger for him, eventually passing.

Xiao Rong suddenly spoke, "Do you keep your promises?"

Qu Yunmie, who had been looking at the candle, turned his head back, "Yes."

Xiao Rong frowned, "I don't think so."

Qu Yunmie: "..."

Xiao Rong continued, "You said, in warfare, no one escapes unscathed. Swords have no eyes; you might die tomorrow."

Qu Yunmie: "........"

Tomorrow, the army would just be setting out, and even by nightfall, they wouldn't have left Chenliu.

After a moment, Qu Yunmie said, "I won't die."

Xiao Rong looked unconvinced, "How do you know?"

Qu Yunmie: "I just know."

Xiao Rong stared at him, finally saying, "Arrogant and stubborn."

Qu Yunmie: "..."

Well, this was the first idiom Xiao Rong had ever used on him, and the first one he repeated.

Qu Yunmie opened his mouth to refute him but, seeing Xiao Rong's expression, didn't know what to say. Finally, he sighed deeply.

Who knew Xiao Rong would even have an issue with his sigh. Hearing it, he immediately questioned, "Why are you sighing? Did I hit a nerve, so you don't know how to fool me anymore?"

Qu Yunmie: "........"

He had never been more wronged in his life.

Looking at Xiao Rong helplessly, Qu Yunmie didn't really want to explain, but felt that if he didn't, even after sobering up, Xiao Rong would still hold a grudge.

So he said honestly, "I don't know why I'm so certain, but seeing your state tonight... I feel I must do this. I need to come back alive, or you'll hate me forever."

Xiao Rong nodded vigorously, "Right, if you die, I'll haunt you even as a ghost."

Qu Yunmie couldn't help but laugh. This was the second time he had heard Xiao Rong say this. Xiao Rong spoke very seriously, but for some reason, every time he heard it, he wanted to laugh. Yet, after laughing, a sour and itchy feeling would arise in his heart, making him restless.

He explained to Xiao Rong why he knew he wouldn't die outside, but he didn't explain why he sighed.

The reason he sighed was that he suddenly had a premonition that attacking the Xianbei might be the last time in his life when he could throw caution to the wind and fight with all his might.

Xiao Rong himself didn't feel it. He thought his gaze was fierce and that he was being particularly harsh to Qu Yunmie tonight. But if he looked in the mirror, he would have seen how helpless and clingy his eyes were. Being looked at like that, Qu Yunmie almost wavered in his resolve to attack the Xianbei.

He couldn't bear seeing Xiao Rong like this, so he thought he might not be able to do it again.

As the candle burned silently, Qu Yunmie tucked Xiao Rong under the covers and whispered a promise that he would return, win the battle, write to him every day to let him know he was safe, and never disappoint him, never.

Regardless of whether these promises would come true, they certainly worked on Xiao Rong. He slowly lay down, no longer looking at Qu Yunmie. Qu Yunmie watched his half-closed eyes and suddenly asked, "You're not lying to me, right?"

Xiao Rong lifted his eyelids, not understanding what Qu Yunmie meant.

Qu Yunmie: "If I promise to come back, will you wait for me here?"

Xiao Rong blinked slowly twice and then turned over, facing away from Qu Yunmie. But before Qu Yunmie could say anything, he heard Xiao Rong give a muffled grunt.

"Uh-huh."...

Leaving Xiao Rong's room, Qu Yunmie returned to his own quarters alone. The moon, which had been low earlier, now hung high in the sky.

Since he could remember, he had spent countless nights sleeping outdoors. He had many memories associated with the moon—killing under its light, traveling by night, and lying under the open sky, complaining about the moon being too bright or too dim.

But not anymore. From now on, whenever he saw the moon, he would only think of tonight and the person who danced with a sword for him.

Tomorrow was the day of the battle, yet he had no sleepiness. If nothing unexpected happened, he might stand there for a long time, replaying the graceful and extraordinary figure in his mind. But an unexpected event did occur.

The moonlight was beautiful tonight, and Mi Jing couldn't sleep either. So he came out with a lantern, hoping to find a clean spot to meditate. Unexpectedly, Qu Yunmie was standing like a wooden post in the middle of the road. Mi Jing was too focused on watching for insects on the ground and didn't notice the person until the lantern bumped into Qu Yunmie. Otherwise, he might have run into him.

Thinking of such a scene, both felt a chill.

Mi Jing: "..."

Qu Yunmie: "..."

In the silent night, only crickets chirped, and even the frogs had gone to sleep. The two stared at each other for a moment, following the principle of "if the enemy doesn't move, I won't move."

Finally, Qu Yunmie broke the silence, asking Mi Jing, "Want a drink?"

Mi Jing: "........"

In the pavilion by the rockery, Mi Jing placed his lantern on the stone table. Monks don't drink alcohol, and neither does the commander before a battle. So instead of wine, they had tea.

The night breeze brought a chill, turning the previously hot charcoal into a welcome source of warmth.

Qu Yunmie prepared the tea, skillfully adding ingredients and checking the fire. He usually didn't like drinking this due to his naturally warm body, but that didn't mean he couldn't make it. When he was young, Gao Xunzhi was often busy, and little Qu Yunmie would sit beside him, brewing tea.

This should have been a pleasant sight, as the King was handsome enough to captivate anyone. Dressed in scholar's robes, he could make Xiao Rong unable to look away. His every gesture while brewing tea exuded charm.

But the person sitting across from him was Mi Jing. It wasn't just throwing flirtatious glances at a blind man; it was throwing them at a bear.

Mi Jing silently watched him for a while before suddenly saying, "The King seems to be in a very elegant mood today."

Qu Yunmie glanced at him, "With the battle approaching and years of hatred about to be settled, my spirits naturally rise."

Mi Jing smiled, "I see. I thought perhaps it was because Mr. Xiao said something considerate to the King."

If it were someone else, hearing Mi Jing speculate about their thoughts might have caused some displeasure. But Qu Yunmie looked up from the tea, gazing at Mi Jing for a moment before his lips curled into a smug smile, "That's part of it."

Mi Jing: "..."

Qu Yunmie: "But he didn't say anything considerate to me tonight. He was quite disrespectful, as he always is. Still, even when he speaks disrespectfully, I understand what he truly means."

Mi Jing watched him quietly.

Qu Yunmie stared at Mi Jing, his initially kind expression gradually turning sullen.

Mi Jing: "..."

Finally, he smiled again, "Oh? What did Mr. Xiao want to express?"

Qu Yunmie hummed with a cryptic smile, "He worries about me getting hurt on the battlefield. He doesn't want me to go. Sigh, having such a frail and dependent advisor makes it hard for me to leave."

Mi Jing: "........"

He looked at Qu Yunmie with a complex expression, feeling that he might have misunderstood something.

But Qu Yunmie was lost in his own world, and when he snapped out of it, his expression changed instantly. He looked at Mi Jing with a serious gaze and said, "So I must ask the Buddha Son for a favor."

Mi Jing waited for him to continue.

"Xiao Rong wants me to send him daily letters proving my safety, but he never said he would send me any. I assume that if something happens in Chenliu, as long as it doesn't affect the foundation, he won't tell me to avoid disturbing the northern campaign. Both Yu Shaoxie and Zhang Biezhi, even Mr. Gao, listen to Xiao Rong too much. Only you, Buddha Son, won't be swayed by him. In critical moments, you'll do what you believe is right. Am I wrong?"

Mi Jing looked at him and smiled, "No, you are not."

Qu Yunmie finally showed a satisfied expression, "Then I must trouble the Buddha Son. I am determined to defeat the Xianbei, but if anything happens to Xiao Rong, conquering ten more Xianbei wouldn't be enough to make up for it."

Mi Jing listened to Qu Yunmie's tone and frowned slightly, "Mr. Xiao has never liked the King blaming others. If something happens to him, it may not be the Xianbei's fault. If the King insists on acting alone, Mr. Xiao might be displeased."

Qu Yunmie raised his eyebrows, looking at Mi Jing with a half-smile, "If he can still control me, I'll listen to him one more time. But if he can't, what difference does it make whether I kill a thousand or ten thousand?"

Mi Jing stared at him, stunned. Qu Yunmie poured himself a bowl of tea. The freshly brewed tea was scalding, making it impossible to feel the temperature, only the sharp pain. Just like the hypothetical scenario he mentioned, even though it was just an assumption, it felt like a pot of boiling water had been poured over his heart, making him instinctively want to retreat.

Mi Jing's expression was bewildered, and the sudden alertness in his heart gradually subsided as Qu Yunmie fell silent. Compared to Qu Yunmie's petulant statement, Mi Jing was more concerned about something else.

He carefully observed Qu Yunmie's appearance and, after a moment, tentatively said, "King, Mr. Xiao's health has always been poor, and he often faints from spitting blood. If one day he passes away, it's not—"

Qu Yunmie roared: "Shut up!!!"

His good mood had completely vanished. Qu Yunmie hurled the teacup into the grass outside and stood up, vehemently reprimanding Mi Jing: "Xiao Rong is the one who values you the most in the entire royal household! Had it not been for his persistent persuasion, I would never have permitted Buddhist monks to join the Northern Pacification Army! You save all beings and show kindness to every living creature; why then do you not show kindness to Xiao Rong?! Do not let me hear such words from you again. I care not if you are a Buddhist disciple or even Buddha himself; provoke me once more, and I will ensure you die without a grave to call your own!"

Qu Yunmie stormed off, flipping over the pot of tea on his way out, leaving nothing for Mi Jing.

Mi Jing: "…………"

This pot of tea had at least killed four innocent little grasses, but Mi Jing, staring at the still steaming soil, was too preoccupied to mourn the unlucky grasses.

Mi Jing was twenty-eight years old. In terms of experience, even Gao Xunzhi might not surpass him.

Even so, Qu Yunmie had still opened his eyes tonight. ……Amitabha! *

The next morning, Xiao Rong sat dazedly on his bed, his mind filled with what he had said and done last night.

He had brought two jars of wine precisely to bolster his courage, so he wouldn't feel embarrassed and could boldly finish the《Pochaengyeo》dance.

But now, dancing didn't matter anymore. What he couldn't accept was that he had shown a nagging and annoying side. …Ah!!!

Embarrassing, so embarrassing!!!

He wished he could build a rocket right then and shoot straight to the moon, but there was no time for embarrassment now; the army was setting off early.

Realizing this, Xiao Rong scrambled out of bed and quickly got dressed.

Just as he was about to rush out of the room, he paused. He saw the Chi Dragon Sword, which Qu Yunmie had somehow returned, lying quietly on the table. Seeing it reminded him of some events from last night, including how Qu Yunmie had gazed at him with those dark eyes, making a brief yet profound promise.

Xiao Rong: "……"

He pursed his lips and then quickly walked out. *

The army gathered outside the city. At the forefront were the vanguard troops of the Central Army, Qu Yunmie's personal guards. To the left was Jian Qiao's unit, and to the right was Gongsun Yuan's unit.

Behind them were scattered troops that had come to join the expedition. He Tingzhi, clad in armor and riding a tall horse, looked quite impressive.

In front, Zhang Biezhi cleared the way for Xiao Rong, with Di Fazeng protecting him. Xiao Rong pushed through the crowd and finally reached the front.

Qu Yunmie was talking to someone else when he caught sight of Xiao Rong out of the corner of his eye. Immediately, he turned to look, his armored figure imposing, with the Snow-Drinking Spear hanging diagonally on his back. The red tassel at the top swayed with the movement of the horse. Though they were separated by several yards, Xiao Rong could see the vibrant smile that spread across Qu Yunmie's face upon seeing him.

On previous expeditions, Qu Yunmie always took Gao Xunzhi along, but this time, Xiao Rong suggested that Chenliu couldn't be without its Chancellor. Gao Xunzhi, thinking that Qu Yunmie never listened to him anyway during battles, decided to stay behind to assist Xiao Rong.

It was peculiar to travel without counsel, hence a pair of advisors were selected from the team of consultants. From the royal residence, Yu Shaoxie joined them on the journey.

Yu Shaoxie remained calm, while Yu Shaocheng, newly promoted to Qu Yunmie's deputy general, grinned widely, showing eight teeth. …

Song Shuo somehow appeared beside Xiao Rong, pouting: "I want to go too~"

Xiao Rong nodded: "Go ahead. There's still time. Should I have someone pack your luggage?"

Song Shuo: "……"

Ugh, can't you tell I just wanted to act spoiled?

Amidst the commotion, everything was ready. Two large banners were brought out. Initially rolled up, they were slowly unfurled. A soldier grabbed one corner and pulled it upward, and the next moment, the banner was raised, its fluttering sound echoing. Red borders on a white background, the red characters "Northern Pacification" imprinted on everyone's retinas.

No one spoke. In this solemn moment, He Tingzhi looked around at the faces of the soldiers and civilians, feeling a bit anxious. He glanced at the second banner, eagerly awaiting its unveiling.

Soon, the second banner was unfurled, but instead of the character "Yong," it bore Qu Yunmie's surname, "Qu."

He Tingzhi: "…………"

Weren't we supposed to march under the name of the Yong Dynasty?!

Xiao Rong: That's correct, but why be so ostentatious on the journey? We can unveil it when we reach Sheng Le. …

The war drums sounded, and the horn players prepared. Once the horns blew, the army would depart.

In this tense and exciting moment, Zhang Biezhi suddenly shouted: "Wish the King a victorious return!"

For a moment, no one responded.

He Tingzhi slightly pursed his lips, trying not to laugh, but then he was startled as a wave of voices crashed over him. These voices came not only from Qu Yunmie's troops but also from the Chenliu citizens who had come to see them off.

"Wish the King a victorious return!!"

"Wish the King a victorious return!!"

"Wish the King a victorious return!!"

Some people strained their voices, others cried as they shouted, and some climbed trees, shaking branches while yelling.

Two months ago, these people had wept at the arrival of the Northern Pacification King. Now, they sincerely hoped he would return victorious and continue to protect them as their Northern Pacification King.

Xiao Rong turned to look at the excited and passionate crowd, then turned back.

Qu Yunmie and he always seemed to share an unspoken understanding. At the same moment, Qu Yunmie shifted his complex gaze and looked back at Xiao Rong.

They were too far apart to say goodbye, but they didn't need to. Their reunion was imminent.

The departure horn finally sounded, gradually drowning out the citizens' blessings. The citizens fell silent, and Qu Yunmie looked forward, taking a deep breath. He shouted loudly: "Soldiers, listen to my command—"

The sound of clashing armor rang out in unison.

"Follow me to battle!!"

Another wave of thunderous shouts followed, and Qu Yunmie spurred his horse forward first, with the rest following closely. The cavalry left first, followed by the infantry running to catch up. This was how a rapid march worked—run until tired, then walk to regain strength, and continue running.

Once Qu Yunmie disappeared from sight, Xiao Rong turned and left. Zhang Biezhi immediately followed. Xiao Rong paused, asking curiously: "Why did you think to shout that?"

Zhang Biezhi scratched his head. "Back in Yanmen County, didn't Mr. Xiao instruct my brother-in-law to do the same? If I follow suit, it shouldn’t be wrong, right?"

Xiao Rong chuckled. "You're not imitating clumsily; you’re surpassing the master."

Praised, Zhang Biezhi laughed heartily. He wanted to follow Xiao Rong, but Xiao Rong waved him off, signaling for them not to accompany him. The city gate was within sight, and he planned to wander around the city before returning.

Zhang Biezhi disagreed. With the King gone, the city wasn’t as safe as before. But just as he was about to follow regardless, Di Fazeng tripped him. Zhang Biezhi nearly faceplanted, glaring angrily at Di Fazeng, who still looked half-dead.

However, Di Fazeng gestured with his eyes, indicating that Zhang Biezhi should look at Xiao Rong.

Zhang Biezhi glanced over, seeing nothing different, but he suddenly understood Di Fazeng's meaning.

It’s best not to disturb him...

Xiao Rong returned to the city alone. Midway, he remembered the family he had taken Qu Yunmie to visit. The son-in-law must have also departed today. He wondered how the family was faring.

They had only been married for a few days before parting. Now, her beloved husband was away with no return date. Xiao Rong had been happy when he saw their wedding, but today he realized it wasn’t a particularly blissful marriage.

He arrived near their home. No one was in the courtyard, but faint crying came from inside the house, along with a child’s worried voice: "Aunt..."

Feeling sad, Xiao Rong then heard the child say, "Aunt, don’t cry. What if you upset your pregnancy?"

Xiao Rong: "…………"

Already pregnant?!

That’s too fast!*

Back at the palace, even though only one person had left, Xiao Rong felt an unusual quietness. This wasn’t just his imagination; everyone spoke softly, afraid of disturbing him.

Even Chen didn’t cause trouble, instead cooking a bowl of mutton soup noodles and sending Ah Shu to deliver it to Xiao Rong.

But Ah Shu dared not disturb Xiao Rong. Taking advantage of his height, he quietly approached the window, tiptoeing to peek through the crack.

Inside, Xiao Rong sat at the table, rubbing his face, trying to clear his mind of these troubling thoughts. Worrying wouldn’t help; he couldn’t fly there to save anyone.

He stood up, intending to tidy the room, starting by hanging the sword back up.

But as he picked it up, memories of last night resurfaced. The embarrassment faded with the departure of the other protagonist, leaving him thinking that he likely wouldn’t need the sword again.

No one else would make him lower his status to perform the special *Breaking Array Dance* except for Qu Yunmie.

With this thought, he slowly drew the sword, admiring its intricate patterns. As usual, he gently touched it.

Then, four wounds appeared evenly on his fingers.

Xiao Rong: "…………"

He stared at his hand, watching blood beads rush out.

From his angle, Ah Shu could only see Xiao Rong’s back and didn’t understand why he suddenly froze. But the next second, Xiao Rong’s furious voice nearly scared him to the ground.

"QU—YUN—MIE!!!!"

"You dog thief, I’ll kill you with my own hands!!!!!!"

Author's note: