Chapter 275 - 76: Old Acquaintance

Chapter 275: Chapter 76: Old Acquaintance

Liang Qiang gazed at the girl on horseback. Life’s encounters were truly unpredictable.

He knew she was in the army. He was in the vanguard, fighting in the most dangerous places. She, on the other hand, was the daughter of General Wei, Chu Ling, and the Empress of Great Xia, protected within the Central Army’s formation, surrounded by a tight ring of elite soldiers.

He had seen her galloping past, but he had never imagined they would meet.

And he certainly never expected to meet her like this—in such a dangerous situation, looking so wretched.

He was covered in blood, his armor and robes torn to shreds. He was half-kneeling on the ground, using his long saber to prop himself up. Blood flowed endlessly from a deep gash on his left arm.

’Is he okay?’

"I..." Liang Qiang gripped his long saber and lowered his gaze. "I’m fine."

Even with his eyes lowered, he could feel the girl’s gaze sweep over him, finally resting on his left arm.

"That you are," the girl said, her tone full of wonder. She repeated, "Thank goodness. Thank goodness."

’Really?’ Liang Qiang raised his head and looked at Chu Zhao.

Chu Zhao had already looked away. "Ah Le, come and treat Mr. Liang’s wound."

Liang Qiang watched the maidservant dismount, come to his side, and take out a knife to cut away his sleeve.

"That was close," Ah Le said. "If that cut had gone any deeper, Mr. Liang, your arm would have been severed."

Liang Qiang said nothing, remaining motionless as if he couldn’t feel the pain.

"Just stop the bleeding and bind the wound for now," Chu Zhao said. "We’ll have a skilled physician treat it properly when we get back, so we don’t damage the meridians."

Ah Le grunted in acknowledgment. She fed Liang Qiang a pill, then deftly sprinkled powder on the wound and bound it with a cloth to stop the bleeding.

In that short time, the fighting up ahead had already ended.

"Miss Chu!" a woman’s voice called out.

Liang Qiang couldn’t help but look. Ahead, he saw a girl carrying a long saber. Beside her stood another woman wielding twin sabers, both blades stained red.

"Seven or eight of them escaped! Ding Dachui has gone after them," the girl shouted. Then she asked, "Do we regroup?"

’Is that one of Chu Zhao’s personal guards?’ Liang Qiang wondered. ’Why does she sound so impatient? She has no reverence for the Empress.’

Chu Zhao raised her voice and commanded, "Forced march! We’re heading for the Chi Na Military Department’s headquarters!"

The girl asked no more questions. The command to fall into formation echoed through the ranks.

Chu Zhao’s warhorse pawed the ground impatiently. Ah Le swiftly finished binding the wound, then rose and mounted her horse.

"Mr. Liang," Chu Zhao said, looking at Liang Qiang again. "Are you still able to ride with me and continue the fight?"

Liang Qiang looked up at her, using his long saber to push himself to his feet. "As long as I still draw breath, I will fight to the death."

Chu Zhao said, "Mr. Liang, you are as valiant as ever."

The "as ever" she used didn’t refer to his current state, despite his injuries, but to the past.

Back then, when the scion of the powerful Liang Family caroused through the Capital City, she had praised him for being valiant.

Now, as that same scion, exiled to the Border County, fought on the battlefield, she praised his valor once more.

Liang Qiang knew that both times, the girl’s praise had been sincere.

She truly believed he was valiant.

’But is he really valiant? He used to think he was. But now...’

With a CLATTER of hooves, Chu Zhao urged her horse into a gallop and sped away.

Liang Qiang watched her retreating figure. ’To fight by her side... this moment will be unforgettable.’ He tore his gaze away, swung himself onto his horse, and, holding his saber in one hand, galloped after her.

....

....

「By the time dusk fell,」 Zhong Changrong had already paced countless circles inside his campaign tent.

"Old Zhong, don’t worry," one of the generals said, trying to console him for what felt like the hundredth time. "Miss Chu isn’t facing the main Chi Na Army force, and besides—"

He was cut off mid-sentence.

"And that makes it fine?" Zhong Changrong snapped. "Even if it’s not their main force, it’s still the Chi Na Army’s elite!"

Another general chimed in, "But she has that... person... with her—"

Those words were like fuel to the fire. Zhong Changrong seethed. "That woman is despicable and treacherous! Her only talent is getting a general killed. She leads a pack of rabble!"

The other generals exchanged helpless glances. Mu Mianhong was indeed detestable; she had single-handedly ruined the General’s brilliant career. Still, Miss Chu was her daughter, after all.

"And what if she is?" Zhong Changrong sneered. "Faced with danger, she’s the kind of person who would sacrifice her own daughter to save herself. Once she sees the fierce Chi Na Army, she’ll probably abandon the girl and run for her life."

As soon as the words left his mouth, a clamor of shouts erupted outside. "Good news! Good news from the front—"

Zhong Changrong shot out of the tent like a gust of wind, nearly knocking over the incoming Xin Bing.

"General Zhong!" the Xin Bing yelled. "The Empress and Captain Xie have won a great victory! They’ve crushed the Chi Na Military Department, and Captain Xie has captured the Western Liang Prince Consort alive!"

The generals who had followed him out all heard the news and broke into cheers. In moments, the entire camp erupted with wave after wave of jubilant shouts.

"A great victory! A great victory!"

This was the crucial first battle since Chu Ling’s death. With this victory, the army’s morale was stabilized.

"Quick! Send word to the Capital City! Announce the victory publicly!"

While the other generals were bustling about in joyous chaos, Zhong Changrong gripped the Xin Bing’s arms, anxiously demanding to know how Chu Zhao was and whether she was hurt.