Volume III, Real Ancient Capital, Chapter 72: Iron Tenderness
By Xiao Xiang Dong'Er | Translated and Arranged by Angel Chua
Chill wind swept through the dense jungle, like a beast's deep breath. Before dawn, torrential rain began to pour, water splashing everywhere. Chu Qiao knelt halfway in the grass, like a wolf on the prowl, her sharp eyes peering through the thick forest ahead.
A group of more than a hundred men crept cautiously. Each was cloaked in black, their faces masked, with long knives sheathed at their sides. Four giant hounds led the way, guiding the crowd forward. The group was slowly approaching the girl's hiding spot.
Now was not the time to wonder why she had been exposed or how careful her enemies were. Chu Qiao quieted her thoughts and lay in wait for the impending crisis.
The hounds suddenly snarled, and the group halted. Then, as one, they charged toward Chu Qiao's direction!
"Bang!" A sharp sound pierced the air. Chu Qiao unsheathed her broken Moon sword, its blade gleaming as it reflected her pale but determined face.
"Shang!" A low cry echoed, and the first of the attackers lunged forward. The cold blade sliced through the thick night air.
"Oh!" In a flash of swordlight, two heads flew into the air. Chu Qiao moved with the grace of a goshawk, her speed and agility masking the severity of her wounds. The men stared in shock as she shook her head and slowly pointed her blade. The two headless bodies still advanced, taking two steps forward before collapsing. Chu Qiao ran forward, sweeping through the muddy water, her boots stained with blood.
Step, pull the knife, slash, and advance. There were no unnecessary moves, no wasted efforts—each strike was lethal.
With a loud bang, lightning illuminated Chu Qiao's pale but resolute face. None of her attackers were spared. They had never feared death, but now, faced with the girl's cold eyes and fearless attacks, they were terrified.
For a brief moment, hesitation crept into the assassins' hearts. But soon, the leader rallied his men. A hundred assassins rushed forward with their blades, their eyes steely and determined.
Thunder rumbled overhead as heavy rain poured down. Blood mixed with the mud as swords clashed, and the thin girl was surrounded by enemies. There were no cries, no shouts—only the deafening sounds of the storm. Lightning flashed, revealing severed limbs and blood splattering across the forest. Despite the overwhelming odds, Chu Qiao continued to fight with no sign of surrender.
The assassins' hearts pounded in their chests, their blood boiling with fear. Swords were drawn with cautious steps as they formed a circle around the girl. She stood with unwavering resolve, holding her blade steady.
Suddenly, the leader of the assassins barked an order. "Kill her!"
Hundreds of arrows shot toward Chu Qiao from all directions. In the midst of this onslaught, a burst of silver light appeared, and she leaped into the air, evading the deadly rain.
Just at that moment, a sharp sound rang out. A silver-white arrow shot down from the sky, followed by a long, dark rope that wrapped around Chu Qiao's waist. She was lifted into the air, soaring away from the danger.
The assassins were momentarily stunned. But before they could react, a figure shot through the air like a meteor, wielding a long sword. The blade glinted brilliantly, deflecting arrows and striking down attackers. The figure darted through the trees, moving swiftly.
Thunder and lightning filled the sky as another group of black-clad warriors descended from above, joining the fight.
"Master, go first!" one of the warriors called out as they defended Chu Qiao.
"Stop them!" the enemy leader shouted.
The man snorted, slashing through an assassin's throat. Blood sprayed into the air as the assassins fell one after another. The battle raged on, but the tide was turning.
Suddenly, a signal flare shot into the sky, casting a blue light over the battlefield. The leader of the assassins looked up, his face grim.
"Hurry!" he muttered. The remaining assassins retreated into the shadows.
Amidst the chaos, Chu Qiao clung to the man who had saved her, the cold wind whipping around them as they rode away. Torches lit the hillside, and she wondered how many enemies surrounded them.
"Little Lord!" a voice called out from ahead. More black-clad men appeared, their weapons drawn, ready to fight.
"Lord, there are enemies to the west!"
"Lord, someone's in the south wing!"
"Lord, more are coming from the east!"
As they galloped away, the dense forest suddenly gave way to an open grassland. Chu Qiao's heart felt lighter, but her hands were bloody, and she turned to the man beside her.
"Your arm is injured," she said quietly.
The man, still masked, looked down at her. "Where is Li Ce?" he asked.
"He escaped," Chu Qiao replied honestly.
"You go first," Yan Xun said as he jumped off the horse and addressed the guard beside him. "Take the girl back to the city."
"Yan Xun!"
Chu Qiao quickly dismounted, her legs nearly giving way beneath her. Yan Xun immediately turned back and caught her, worry flashing in his eyes. "What are you doing?"
"I should be the one asking you that!" Chu Qiao's brows knitted together in frustration. "What are you planning?"
Yan Xun's expression hardened, and his voice turned cold. "I'm going to kill him."
"Are you insane? The Green Camp and Xiao Jing's forces are involved. It's too late! The time has passed," she said, her voice rising with urgency.
Yan Xun shook his head firmly. "You don't need to worry. I have my own way of handling it. Go back to the city with the others."
"No!" Chu Qiao grabbed his arm tightly, her voice resolute. "Killing Li Ce might bring immediate benefits, but it will also create endless trouble. If you go through with this, you'll be the prime suspect, especially after leaving the city so conspicuously. Xia Huang will use him as a scapegoat, and you'll be dragged down. Getting rid of Li Ce now won't help the overall situation. You have no reason to risk everything like this!"
"He almost killed you. That's reason enough," Yan Xun said, his voice low but firm. His eyes held unwavering determination as he hugged Chu Qiao tightly, then released her. "This man is too dangerous. I can't let him live, especially not when he's so close to you. Even if it's for just one more day, I won't allow it. A'Chu, go back and wait for me."
Chu Qiao stood still, watching Yan Xun ride away on his warhorse, disappearing into the darkness. She felt a surge of guilt and regret welling up inside her, like hot water boiling in her chest, suffocating her.
She had never made such a mistake before, and she had chances to prevent it. Even after it happened, she should have been able to fix things and guide everything back on track. But she hadn't. Now, this crisis threatened to drag Yan Xun down with her. Her mistakes would forever weigh on her heart.
"Girl!"
The guards panicked as they saw Chu Qiao mounting her horse, chasing after Yan Xun. They hurriedly followed her, shouting, "What are you doing? The Little Lord told us to take you back to the city!"
"Go back and retrieve the Prince of Bian Tang!" Chu Qiao commanded coldly as she whipped her horse into motion. "Drive!"
Under the stormy night sky, a group of riders galloped along the path. In the rain, their black-and-white garb glistened, their swords sharp as they pressed forward.
Hooves pounded through the mud, echoing in the cold air. Kneeling in the rain-soaked dirt, a scout reported, "Fourth young master, we followed the clues but found no trace of the target. The woman with the target inflicted heavy casualties."
The man with sharp eyes, his expression as cold as steel, looked up. "What happened to the woman?"
The scout stammered nervously, "We were about to succeed, but a group of highly skilled black-clad fighters appeared out of nowhere and rescued her."
"Men in black?"
"Yes. They weren't from Xiaoqingshan or the Green Camp. Nor were they from the city defense forces or the Bian Tang army."
The man's brows furrowed as he fell into silence, thinking for a long time. Finally, in a cold voice, he asked, "Was the woman injured?"
The soldier hesitated before answering, "I can't say for sure, but she killed over a dozen of our men single-handedly, and many of our brothers were wounded. I doubt she's unscathed, but if she is, it's a miracle."
The man remained silent for a while longer, then whipped his horse forward. The sound of hooves quickly faded into the distance.
Thunder rolled across the wilderness, the downpour relentless. The black-clad soldiers stood tall, their faces cold and unreadable. Their uniforms bore no markings of rank or allegiance, only the cold efficiency of men accustomed to battle.
Suddenly, the narrow road brought two groups face to face. Both were stunned to see each other, dressed almost identically, their cold-blooded demeanors a mirror of one another. In the rain-soaked silence, it was impossible to tell friend from foe.
The wind blew slowly between them, each second dragging on endlessly. Neither side dared to make the first move.
Suddenly, "Bang!" A crisp sound broke the tension. It wasn't clear if it was a weapon or something else. The effect was contagious. Instantly, blades were drawn, and bows were notched as both sides prepared for battle.
"Call!"
Suddenly, a disturbance came from the stables. Chu Qiao rode forward and saw the two cold formations lined up on either side, tension in the air. She quickly rode to Yan Xun's side.
"Who are they?" she asked quietly.
Yan Xun frowned. "You've caused a lot of trouble today. How could you forget everything I just told you?"
"Only I can find him," Chu Qiao replied softly. "If you want to kill him, don't send me away."
Yan Xun's eyes narrowed as he tilted his head slightly. "If you get hurt, what's the point of killing him?"
Chu Qiao's heart ached as she pulled on his sleeve and whispered, "Yan Xun..."
"A'Chu, I'm not in a good mood right now. Don't talk to me—I don't want to get angry at you."
Chu Qiao was stunned for a moment as she watched Yan Xun ride away. His straight back disappeared into the rain-soaked night. She stood still, silent and unable to respond.
The darkness still concealed a large number of troops. They moved like bats in the night, their presence haunting in the storm. They had stopped her and Yan Xun from advancing, and now the path seemed even more perilous.
The opposite group had seen Chu Qiao rejoin Yan Xun's ranks. Their leader, frowning, stared into the darkness as the rain slashed across their faces. He suddenly raised his hand, signaling his men.
Swords were returned to their sheaths, and arrows were lowered. The opposing group also withdrew their weapons.
Both sides had come ready to fight, but after assessing the situation, they turned and moved in opposite directions without a word.
As they passed each other, Chu Qiao and Yan Xun exchanged brief glances with the other leader, but all they could see was a pair of sharp eyes beneath the man's black mask.
"Master," a guard whispered, "that woman was the one with the target earlier."
"Yes," the leader replied.
The guard hesitated, his voice anxious. "She killed over a dozen of our brothers."
"An assassin afraid of death?" The man's eyes were cold. "Who can't even identify the target? Useless."
The guard fell silent, ashamed. At that moment, a silver signal flared above the jungle, and the leader's brow furrowed. He spurred his horse forward, disappearing into the night.
Yan Xun didn't take the same route back to the jungle. Instead, he led Chu Qiao toward a side door leading to Zhen Huang. Chu Qiao, confused, asked, "Aren't we going?"
Yan Xun frowned, his voice cold. "Didn't you see the group just now? If they couldn't handle it, neither can we."
"Yan Xun?"
"Don't speak. Just go back home."
As they reached the gate, a green carriage awaited them. Yan Xun and Chu Qiao quickly dismounted and entered the carriage, moving silently toward the city.
The journey was marked by secret responses and swift movements. They reentered the city quietly, avoiding detection, and their carriage eventually turned toward a brothel within Zhenhuang's inner city.
By the time they arrived at the other hospital, the night had given way to early morning. The rain had stopped, and the first light of dawn broke across the horizon. The entire palace had been thrown into turmoil after the Prince of Bian Tang's kidnapping. In the stillness, it was impossible to tell how many people were truly asleep.
Yan Xun dismounted first, his face grim and unreadable. As they made their way into the hospital, he ripped open the collar of his robe, his irritation clear as he pushed away the maidservants offering heated towels.
Everyone could sense their master's foul mood, and the entire household was on edge, trembling in fear.
Yan Xun had every right to be angry. He had always been cautious, careful with every move. And now, Chu Qiao had left the city with the Prince of Bian Tang, a dangerous and unpredictable situation. Why hadn't she escaped earlier? Why had she waited so long? With her skills, she should have easily avoided injury. Why had she allowed herself to be cornered and forced into desperation? He couldn't bear to think about what might have happened if he had arrived late. How could she have survived such an array of enemies?
Chu Qiao tightened her lips, reached out, and hugged the man's waist, her voice laced with a bit of guilt. "I'm sorry. I made you so furious."
Yan Xun sighed. "I understand, you were just feeling guilty. It's my fault, I didn't tell you sooner. No one was killed last night, only a few were injured. We retreated in time, and no one knew I was out of the city. You don't have to worry."
Chu Qiao pulled away from Yan Xun's embrace, suddenly feeling a bit embarrassed. It had been many years since she had let her emotions get so out of control. Yan Xun was right; since the ambush, she'd been plagued with regret. She was scared—afraid that Yan Xun would risk himself coming after her. She feared their plans would be exposed. In truth, it was her own inability to face her failure that terrified her. In their dangerous world, failure could mean death, not just for herself but for everyone around her.
"Yan Xun, I'll be more careful from now on," Chu Qiao said quietly.
Yan Xun smiled helplessly and placed his arm around her shoulder. "Just stay by my side and don't go anywhere. Wait for me to take you away."
Chu Qiao looked up into Yan Xun's eyes, feeling a sudden wave of exhaustion. The night's battle had drained her, and though she was finally able to relax, a heavy fatigue pressed on her heart. Despite the brief moment of peace, they were still far from safety. The Imperial City, with its countless hidden threats—arrows, bombs, and spies—remained dangerous. She couldn't afford to make another mistake.
"Well, let's shake hands and have something to eat," Yan Xun said, breaking the silence.
Chu Qiao blinked, surprised. "Didn't we just finish eating?"
"I finished, but you need to eat a bit more."
Her body was sore, and she didn't have much appetite. She shook her head. "I can't eat."
"You can't eat too much, but you should have something," Yan Xun said, motioning to a servant to bring another meal. He sat back down, waiting for her to eat.
Chu Qiao looked at him, a little uncomfortable, and frowned. "Don't you have something else to do?"
Yan Xun laughed. "Today, the entire city is busy. I, however, am the most idle. This morning, when Princess Huai Song arrived in the city, all the civil and military officials went to greet her."
"Princess Huai Song, Chang Na Lan Hongye?" Chu Qiao murmured. "Have you met her?"
Yan Xun nodded. "Many years ago."
"I've heard she's very powerful," Chu Qiao whispered, then fell silent again.
Yan Xun placed a piece of meat in her bowl. "Eat more. You're too thin."
She smiled, feeling more at ease, and ate a few more bites of rice.
Just as they finished eating, there was a commotion outside. Chu Qiao frowned as a sharp voice called out, "Your Highness, the emperor has summoned you to the front hall for the Wind Reception Banquet."
Yan Xun raised an eyebrow. "The Wind Reception Banquet?"
A'Jing nodded. "Yes."
Yan Xun stood up. "A'Chu, you should rest. I'll return later."
"No," A'Jing interjected, "the emperor has also summoned the lady."
"Me?" Chu Qiao was taken aback. She hadn't expected the emperor to summon her. Given the rigid hierarchy of the Great Summer regime, such an honor was rare for someone of her rank. If it weren't for Li Ce's intervention, she might never have had the chance to set foot in the front hall in her lifetime.
"It must be because you saved Prince Li Ce," Yan Xun said. "A'Chu, are you still feeling hurt?"
Chu Qiao stood up and nodded. "I'll go, but I need to change first."
After a short while, Chu Qiao and Yan Xun were seated in a carriage, heading toward the front hall.
The city had been transformed by the heavy rain from the previous day. The fresh greenery contrasted sharply with the somber mood of the capital. Chu Qiao wore her Imperial officer's dress, its white background adorned with a pale blue crescent moon. The design was neither ostentatious nor plain, perfectly reflecting her position.
Yan Xun, seated beside her, noticed her unease and smiled gently. He reached for her hand and whispered, "I'm here. Don't be afraid."
Chu Qiao smiled in return, about to speak when the carriage suddenly jolted forward, throwing her into Yan Xun's arms.
Surprised, Yan Xun quickly helped her up, concern in his eyes. "Did you hurt your wound?"
Chu Qiao shook her head.
Outside, A'Jing's voice called, "Your Highness, it's the driver of Princess Huai Song."
Yan Xun raised an eyebrow. "A'Jing, make way for them."
The sound of horses' hooves slowed as the Princess Huai Song's carriage approached. Huai-Song was not a particularly strong nation, but it was wealthy and had long been a target of Daxia. The political relationship between Daxia and Bian Tang was strong, and even the size of Princess Huai-Song's procession spoke to her influence.
As her carriage approached, it suddenly came to a halt. An envoy stepped forward and said, "The princess wishes to know if the carriage ahead belongs to Yan Bei's Lord?"
Before A'Jing could respond, Yan Xun opened the curtain and addressed the envoy. "It is I. I apologize for not greeting the princess sooner. I hope she can forgive my rudeness."
"Yan Shizi, there's no need for such formalities," a soft voice replied. Slowly, the curtain of the princess's carriage lifted, revealing a veiled woman. Her face was hidden, but her voice, gentle like flowing water, contrasted sharply with the sharp and decisive reputation that preceded her.
"Years pass, and yet the world still remembers Yan Bei's grace. Na Lan Hongye is deeply honored," the princess said.
"To think that Her Highness remembers me after all these years is truly humbling," Yan Xun replied respectfully.
Na Lan Hongye smiled behind her veil. "Once someone has seen the brilliance of Yan Bei's Lord, it is hard to forget. Why should you be so modest?"
Yan Xun bowed slightly. "The princess flatters me."
Na Lan Hongye nodded and lowered the curtain. The envoy stepped forward once more and said, "The princess thanks Yan Shizi and asks that you proceed."
Yan Xun shook his head and replied, "The princess is our guest. I cannot possibly go before her."
After a brief exchange, the envoy finally relayed the princess's words of gratitude, and her carriage moved ahead.
Chu Qiao watched the procession leave and remarked, "The Princess of Huai-Song is very polite."
Yan Xun shook his head slightly. "The Zhunji family has deep roots in Huai-Song. They are known for their adherence to ceremony and tradition."
Chu Qiao frowned slightly. "I think she seems to look at you differently."
Yan Xun smiled but did not answer, allowing the carriage to move forward while maintaining a reasonable distance from the one ahead.
Suddenly, a sharp cry came from behind them. Both Chu Qiao and Yan Xun frowned as they listened to the hoarse, broken voice calling out, "The carriage in front, wait a minute!"
A'Jing leaned into the carriage, his expression grim. He spoke slowly, "Your Highness, A'Chu, Prince Li Ce is approaching from behind."
Chu Qiao's brows furrowed tightly, and Yan Xun's face darkened with displeasure. Chu Qiao was about to say something when Yan Xun gently placed his hand on her shoulder. In a calm but firm tone, he said, "Stay here. I will go meet him."
AC Afterthoughts
This chapter reinforces the complexity of Yan Xun and Chu Qiao's relationship. Their dynamic is one of mutual respect, deep loyalty, and underlying emotional tension. Yan Xun's protectiveness and strategic thinking contrast with Chu Qiao's independent and action-driven nature, but these differences are what make their relationship so compelling. As they navigate the dangerous political landscape, their trust in each other will continue to be tested, but their bond remains a crucial element of their survival.
Both characters are shaped by the external threats they face, but it is their internal connection that makes them stronger together. This chapter foreshadows future challenges but also reinforces the emotional depth of their relationship, making it clear that they are not only allies but also, in many ways, each other's greatest strength.