Chapter 1331 - 1007: The Khan’s High Spirits

Upon clearly seeing that charming face, Lei Yu couldn’t help but take a deep breath.

On horseback, holding a torch high, before them appeared an exceptionally beautiful woman of stunning grace.

In a night so dark that you couldn’t see your hand, in a desolate field like this, with the night wind blowing and a long wolf howl echoing from a distant, deep valley, such a beauty appearing in such a night was eerily shocking.

Fortunately, this beauty was not unfamiliar to Lei Yu.

"You are—Lu Xiao?"

The one who spoke was Ashina Zhuxie, who first glanced at the person behind him, then shook the reins and slowly trotted forward, more clearly seeing Lu Xiao’s naturally enchanting face under the torchlight. Facing Ashina Zhuxie’s wolfish eyes, and the Turkic soldiers behind him who were like wolves and tigers, Lu Xiao remained calm, though the seductiveness that used to accompany her breath had lessened quite a bit at this moment. She nodded slightly, and calmly said, "Indeed, I have met Zhu Xie Khan."

"What are you here for?"

"I heard Zhu Xie Khan has traveled a long way to get here, so I came to greet him."

"Are you here to greet us for yourself, or for someone else?"

Lu Xiao let out a light laugh and said, "Khan, you indeed have sharp eyes. I am here to meet you on behalf of Princess Qin."

Ashina Zhuxie narrowed his eyes slightly, "She wishes to see me?"

With a somewhat amused look, Lu Xiao glanced at him, and then looked at the Turkic soldiers behind him who were staring like a tiger watching its prey. Her gaze paused momentarily when it swept over one of them, but she quickly looked away, calmly saying, "Khan, don’t you intend to meet with her on this trip?"

After speaking, she gave a faint smile, turned her horse around, and walked back.

Having spoken up to this point, there was no need to continue. Ashina Zhuxie originally did not intend to alert Shang Ruyi, wanting to see what she was up to near Skytop Mountain with her people, so he planned to camp several miles away to observe their movements. Little did he know that his own movements were always in the eyes of the other side.

Since this was the case, there was no need to hide anymore.

He then looked at Lei Yu and then at Wang Shaoqiu. Beside him, someone held a torch high, the light illuminating a slightly sickly, pale as paper face, but his eyes were even brighter than the fire, staring firmly ahead, seemingly chasing something.

Ashina Zhuxie said, "Let’s go."

No one spoke again. Lei Yu nodded and followed them, continuing forward on horseback.

Soon, a cluster, or even more, lights appeared at the dark foot of the mountain. The Turkic people were not unfamiliar with such lights. It was obviously people lighting bonfires in the night, with some raising torches, waving at them, clearly waiting for a long time.

Lei Yu’s face showed a hint of a smile and said, "It’s Ruyi!"

As she spoke, she immediately rode forward at a slow trot, and seeing this, Ashina Zhuxie had no choice but to lead his men with her. After a short moment in the night, they finally saw the familiar figure illuminated by the firelight.

"Ru Yi!"

Upon clearly seeing the person ahead, Lei Yu immediately dismounted, walked quickly a few steps, and held a pair of familiar, soft hands.

"We finally meet again..."

The one who warmly returned Lei Yu’s grip with hands reddened and numbed by the reins, feeling hot as if burning, was Shang Ruyi.

Although this meeting had long been anticipated, seeing the distant firelight and hearing the approaching hoofbeats, her heart pounded like thunder, especially upon seeing this familiar, beautiful face and hearing her eager call. Her inner bitterness surged like a tide, uncontrollably rising to her heart.

Her voice choked upon speaking, her eyes filled with tears.

But the next moment, she swallowed her bitterness, the tears and unspoken words back down, for Ashina Zhuxie and his people dismounted and approached. The previously quiet night wind suddenly grew more chilling, while the people behind her immediately stood up to protect her.

The two groups stood just a few steps apart, though weapons were not drawn, invisible swords seemed to clash sharply in the air.

The atmosphere was momentarily tense.

It was once again Ashina Zhuxie who broke the silence. He roughly tossed the reins to a soldier behind him, then stepped forward without stopping until he was beside Lei Yu. He placed his hand forcefully on her shoulder, his eyes like a hawk staring at prey on the ground, staring into Shang Ruyi’s eyes, saying, "Princess Qin, we meet again."

Shang Ruyi slowly raised her head, her gaze almost as sharp as his sparkling in the night.

She said, "Khan, you’re in high spirits."

"Oh?"

Ashina Zhuxie raised an eyebrow, applying slightly more pressure to his grasp. Lei Yu, at this point, finally released Shang Ruyi’s hand. Their hands, previously touching and scorching hot, felt a strange chill upon separation. Ashina Zhuxie’s words swept past Lei Yu’s ear like a cold breeze, "What do you mean by that?"

After withdrawing her hands, Shang Ruyi straightened her back slightly and said, "Xiazhou is in the heat of battle, yet Khan comes to this place. If it’s not a whim, I truly don’t know why you are here."

At these words, Ashina Zhuxie’s gaze flickered slightly, and he said, "You don’t know why I am here?"

Shang Ruyi said, "Should I?"

Her words almost carried a hint of Zen koan, but the people standing behind each side didn’t share the sentiment. Especially the dozens of guards behind Shang Ruyi, though aware this trip wouldn’t be free of danger, hadn’t expected to meet the Western Turks’ khan directly here. Though not yet fighting, they already clutched their swords at their waists, seemingly ready to strike at any moment at the wrong word.

The soldiers behind Ashina Zhuxie were equally on guard.

Ashina Zhuxie frowned. Compared to other reckless and rugged Turkic people, his mind was considered quite meticulous, but he disliked engaging in verbal disputes with a woman, so he coldly said, "If you’re here just to have a word advantage, I don’t mind letting you have your way..."

Implied within his words was the cost of having her way.

Upon hearing this, the Turkic soldiers behind him immediately showed ferocious expressions, flexing their muscles as though ready to pounce.

Momentarily, those behind Shang Ruyi grew even more tense. Even Wo Xue took a slight step forward, seemingly prepared to shield Shang Ruyi at any moment.

At this moment, Lei Yu turned to glance at Ashina Zhuxie and softly said, "If your purpose here is to deal with her, I cannot let you have your way."