Chapter 197 – A Desperate Choice
Yan Xiaosi’s suggestion piqued Tian Dazhuang’s curiosity.
Tian Dazhuang, aware of Yan Xiaosi’s daring nature, cautioned her, “The military camp is a sensitive area; we shouldn’t stay long. Xiaosi, we’ll take a quick look and leave immediately. Staying too long might get us suspected of being barbarian spies.”
“Brother Dazhuang, we’re just peeking from the top of Big Sister Peak, not going down to Tongluo Plain. Why are you so nervous?”
Tian Dazhuang thought about it and agreed that staying briefly at the peak shouldn’t pose a problem.
Both curious, they quickly reached the summit of Big Sister Peak. This wasn’t Yan Xiaosi’s first time here, but today, the view from the peak seemed especially magnificent, likely due to the presence of the 50,000-strong army stationed at Tongluo Plain below.
Standing at the summit, they looked down upon Tongluo Plain. Tents were neatly arranged, countless soldiers trained in the newly formed drill ground, horses neighed, and smoke from the campfires drifted on the breeze. Having been in the military in her previous life, Yan Xiaosi found the scene familiar yet spectacular.
“Brother Dazhuang, our Great Chu army looks quite impressive, doesn’t it?”
Turning to speak to Tian Dazhuang, Yan Xiaosi found him missing, with only the tied-up wild goat behind her.
“Brother Dazhuang! Brother Dazhuang!”
After calling out twice, she saw Tian Dazhuang approaching with two smooth stones. He placed one behind Yan Xiaosi, smiling simply, “Xiaosi, you must be tired. Sit and rest a while, then we can head back to the cave.”
Indeed feeling tired from the climb, Yan Xiaosi thanked him and sat down on the stone.
Tian Dazhuang sat beside her. After resting for a while, Yan Xiaosi suddenly thought of Yan Shuqin’s sad face upon hearing about Tian Dazhuang’s marriage to Yan Shuqing.
“Brother Dazhuang, you’ll have to marry someone eventually. My elder sister is a good person, beautiful and gentle. Why not try liking her? If you and my elder sister really develop feelings, you’ll be my brother-in-law. That would make us even closer, wouldn’t it?”
Hearing the words ‘brother-in-law,’ Tian Dazhuang’s brows furrowed. He felt oddly averse to the term.
Turning to Yan Xiaosi, he looked at her face as his heartbeat quickened uncontrollably. “Xiaosi, I find being with you quite enjoyable. If you were a woman, I’d marry you.”
“Master, isn’t that Young Master Yan over there?”
Long Yu and Murong Qinjian, along with the five Dragon Guards, were surveying the terrain of the Four Sisters Mountains when they encountered Yan Xiaosi and Tian Dazhuang.
Long Yu heard every word Tian Dazhuang had said to Yan Xiaosi.
Under his mask, Long Yu’s brows knitted together. Tian Dazhuang thinking of marrying Yan Xiaosi seemed absurd to him, like a toad lusting after a swan.
Murong Qinjian smiled and glanced at Long Yu, his face showing anticipation for the unfolding drama.
Murong Qinjian smiled slyly, glancing at Long Yu with a look of anticipation. “Long Yu, that pretty boy you’re interested in seems quite cunning. Not only has he caught your fancy, but he’s also involved with another man.”
Long Yu, already in a bad mood, glared warningly at Murong Qinjian for his sarcastic remarks.
“Alright, alright, I misspoke. The pretty boy you fancy is talented and virtuous, okay?” Murong Qinjian conceded.
“Murong Xiaojian, you don’t have to speak; no one thinks you’re mute,” Long Yu snapped, clearly very irritated. Murong Qinjian, not wanting to provoke him further, quickly shut his mouth.
Long Yu stopped in his tracks, listening intently to how Yan Xiaosi would respond to Tian Dazhuang’s declaration.
Tian Dazhuang’s words had nearly choked Yan Xiaosi on his own saliva. The complicated love triangle between his elder sister, Tian Dazhuang, and herself was like something out of a soap opera.
“Cough, cough, Brother Dazhuang, stop joking. We grew up together, bathing in the same pond. How could I possibly be a woman?”
Hearing this, Long Yu’s face under the mask turned green with anger.
“Long San, Long Si, I suspect those two are barbarian spies. Capture them and bring them back to the camp for interrogation.”
The two Dragon Guards, initially confused, realized who Long Yu was referring to. “Where are the barbarian spies, Master?” Long Si asked naively.
Long Yi slapped Long Si on the head and pointed at Yan Xiaosi and Tian Dazhuang. “Aren’t those two barbarian spies? Quickly, follow the master’s orders and bring them to the camp.”
Realizing the real motive was to bring Yan Xiaosi to the camp, Long San and Long Si acted swiftly.
“Yes, Master,” they responded and approached Yan Xiaosi and Tian Dazhuang, capturing them without a word.
Tian Dazhuang, seeing their Great Chu military armor, didn’t dare resist.
“We are just villagers from the nearby Four Sisters Mountains. Why are you arresting us?” he questioned.
“We suspect you two are barbarian spies disguised as Great Chu villagers. Please come with us,” Long San replied, straining his conscience.
Yan Xiaosi frowned, recognizing the Dragon Guards who had seen her before at the Xize County Court, where she had treated the War King for kidney deficiency.
“Dragon Guards, it’s me, Yan Xiaosi. We’ve met before at the Xize County Court. I treated your War King for kidney deficiency,” she reminded them.
Long Yu’s expression, already dark, turned even darker at the mention of kidney deficiency. He seemed to consider proving whether he really suffered from this ailment.
Murong Qinjian chuckled softly. “Long Yu, do you want me to prescribe some kidney-tonifying medicine for you?”
“Keep it for yourself,” Long Yu retorted coldly, quickly descending the mountain using light-footed techniques. Long Yi, Long Er, and Long Wu followed him, seeing his fury.
“Yan Xiaosi, Yan Xiaowu*, we don’t know anyone by those names,” Long Si said, reluctantly lying to comply with Long Yu’s orders.
“Please come with us. Once we confirm that you are not barbarian spies, you will be released.”
Realizing the martial prowess of Long San and Long Si, Yan Xiaosi grudgingly surrendered, understanding their feigned ignorance was under someone’s orders – likely to mess with her for her cheeky comment about kidney deficiency at the county court.
*tl: xiaosi = little four, xiaowu = little five
