The matter had finally come to a close.
Song Qingchao looked back at the mountainside still burning.
Her eyes began to sting.
Guarding the northern desert seemed to be the mission of this generation.
Even though they were on opposing sides, the territory of the Great Yuan was inviolable.
"Youan, let's join forces."
Song Qingchao extended an invitation to Bai Youan, "You are so clever, you should know what I intend to do."
"Of course," Bai Youan replied readily. "Your husband still relies on your patronage."
Song Qingchao shot him a glare. "I want to borrow your men, preferably a few who understand training."
Bai Youan nodded, and then, under the man's introduction, selected about ten soldiers.
"Zhengxi, I want you to take them back to Ling Shi Valley and formalize our troop training. While Zhou Yi's training can produce formidable warriors, battles are not won by sleeping well, but by strict adherence to orders and understanding commands."
Zhou Zhengxi was concerned. "Master, what about you?"
Song Qingchao raised her hand holding Bai Youan's. "With Mr. Bai's assistance and so many people, what are you afraid of?"
Zhou Zhengxi considered this.
As a subordinate, his concern for his master was right, but obeying his master's orders was paramount.
"After things are settled, you and two generals will find Xiao Guo. Eight of you are enough to handle the aftermath."
Upon receiving the order, Zhou Zhengxi held Hong Niang and left with his men.
Bai Youan teased her, "It seems I've chosen a good thigh to cling to. I didn't expect my wife to have another hiding place outside."
Song Qingchao, considering his injuries, decided not to hit him.
"Do I need to explain the principle of a cunning rabbit having three burrows?"
Her use of "concubine" made Bai Youan blush, and for some reason, he began to cough.
Song Qingchao smiled triumphantly.
He wanted to tease her? Not a chance.
"Where are we going now?"
Song Qingchao looked at the letter in his hand. "Aren't you going to read it first?"
Bai Youan glanced down at the letter. "Let's leave here before I read it."
So, Song Qingchao took out a map and pointed to a location. "Wanyan Xiyin's lair."
Fortunately, she had been quick enough to secure the map in her spatial dimension, otherwise, she would be at a loss now.
"However, I still need someone to deliver Wanyan Xiyin."
Bai Youan selected two soldiers familiar with the roads and sent them with Song Qingchao's handwritten letter to Xiyun Pavilion.
Then, they proceeded towards Wanyan Xiyin's lair.
After confirming their safety, Bai Youan also opened the letter left by the old village chief.
Song Qingchao did not look.
She respected Bai Youan's privacy.
However, after reading it, Bai Youan handed the letter to Song Qingchao.
Song Qingchao's expression changed as she read the contents.
"Who is Wang Li?" httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
Bai Youan's face was also grim. He opened his mouth, as if he couldn't believe it.
"My adoptive father..."
He said this and then struck the stone he was sitting on.
A few drops of blood splattered onto his clothes.
An unknown emotion surged through his mind.
He had been deceived for two lifetimes!
Why!
Bai Youan's veins bulged, his face flushed with agitation, his eyes bloodshot.
Song Qingchao, seeing that he was not well, rushed to support him.
"Youan! Youan, what's wrong!"
Bai Youan wanted to smile, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't form the expression.
With a "puff,"
He spat a mouthful of blood onto the ground, and then, losing all support, collapsed.
Song Qingchao, unable to hold him, was also pulled down.
"Youan, Youan, don't scare me!"
Song Qingchao trembled, her hand fumbling to touch Bai Youan's face. "It's okay, you'll be alright."
She looked up and shouted for a doctor.
But Bai Youan grabbed her hand.
"Chaoxiao, I'm fine."
He smiled at Song Qingchao, but his eyes were filled with sorrow.
The tears mixed with blood on his face made him look even more broken.
"Hug me."
Song Qingchao bit her lip, and in the end, chose to obey Bai Youan.
"Don't you dare leave me."
"Look at you, I'm fine, just too overcome with emotion."
Bai Youan coughed, his hand trembling as he fumbled for and took a pill.
Then, he reached out to touch Song Qingchao's face. "So it really was me who implicated you. I'm sorry, Chaoxiao, I'm sorry."
He spoke with a choked voice, his furrowed brows quivering.
Song Qingchao, however, shook her head and hugged Bai Youan tightly.
"I don't blame you. What does this have to do with you?"
She was terrified, terrified that Bai Youan would leave her like this.
He was so distressed but still thinking of comforting her, what a fool he was!
The matters of the Bai family were all handled by Bai Youan's adoptive father, Wang Li.
At that time, the Bai family had already been surrounded.
If Bai Fu did not rebel, there would be no room for negotiation.
Even when pushed to such a desperate situation, he still left his most elite soldiers in the northern desert to guard the territory.
Bai Fu did not truly intend to rebel.
He was going to his death, wanting to leave a way out for Bai Youan and his mother.
But this path was exploited by someone with ill intentions.
His mother was gone, and he remained, with Bai Youan's survival also being Wang Li's scheme.
To mold Bai Youan into a lone wolf, he didn't hesitate to sacrifice his own child's life.
Furthermore, throughout Bai Youan's growth, he constantly instilled the idea of revenge.
He planted his own spies within Bai Youan's ranks.
Every place he went.
Every action he took.
It was all calculated.
Yet, this was the man Bai Youan had respected for over a decade.
Later, the matters concerning the Song family were all instigated by Wang Li.
This person sought not power, nor wealth.
He desired the Great Yuan.
"Chaoxiao, I'm truly fine, I'm just too heartbroken."
Bai Youan struggled to prop himself up, leaning against the stone behind him.
"Don't cry, I'm alright."
Song Qingchao watched him manage a smile, and for a moment, she didn't know what to say.
She understood how Bai Youan felt now.
He extended a hand towards her. "Come, hug me."
Song Qingchao mumbled, "Still acting cute even now."
Then, she obediently leaned into him.
"Chaoxiao, I've also kept one thing from you."
"What?" Song Qingchao was focused on his condition and didn't pay much attention to what he was about to say.
Surely, it couldn't be more significant than what had just happened.
"From the time I can remember, my adoptive father has been instilling the concept of revenge in me. I resisted, I thought about it, but in the end, I couldn't overcome him. But fortunately, I grew up in Nan Yi, and fate allowed me to meet you and your father."
"What?"
Song Qingchao was startled. "We knew each other when we were children?"
Bai Youan took out a handkerchief to wipe the blood from his lips, then took out a water pouch to rinse the metallic taste from his mouth.
"Yes, I was that masked youth. It was I who saved you when you fell into the water that day."
He turned his head to look at Song Qingchao. "Do you want to know how I saved you?"
Song Qingchao remained silent.
Bai Youan leaned in and lightly touched her lips.
"Like this."
He chuckled, as if speaking about someone else, his tone casual.
"Then I dragged you ashore, but that's how my adoptive father discovered me.
He was furious at the time and ordered me not to be with you.
I secretly went out to find you, but by the time I did, you had already left Nan Yi."
Bai Youan gently tapped her forehead, his expression appearing somewhat intoxicated.
"If I had known I was merely a tool for his revenge, I would have searched for you to the ends of the earth."
He then chuckled again, his eyes red. "If you count it like that, then I'm your childhood sweetheart, aren't I?"
Song Qingchao looked at him and said, "And also a surprise encounter."
Bai Youan let out a "puff" of laughter. "Chaoxiao, do you have any wine?"
Song Qingchao looked at him with immense heartache, but there was nothing she could do, so she silently handed him the wine.
Bai Youan took a swig of wine and sighed, smiling. "Your spatial dimension is truly wonderful."
He drank, and then recounted many childhood memories.
As he finished speaking, he tilted his head back to look at the stars, and called her name again.
"Chaoxiao."
"I truly considered him a father..."