Setting up camp outside Fukou Pass, Liang Feng couldn’t sit still for a moment and was eager to leave the pass. However, the mountain road was not as easy as elsewhere, and with the evening approaching, accompanied by only a handful of soldiers, it made people anxious. The guards were unwilling to let him take risks, and being trapped inside the pass, Liang Feng calmed down a bit. He instructed the scouts to go and greet, but before the scouts could mount their horses, the awaited figure appeared.
Disregarding the advice of others, Liang Feng ordered the gate to be opened and stood before the gate himself. This battle was bound to be difficult, and he was mentally prepared. However, when he truly saw Yiyan at that moment, Liang Feng felt as if something was lodged in his throat, rendering him speechless.
It was evident that Yiyan had suffered injuries, covered in wounds. It made people wonder how he could still stand there. His expression seemed like a dream, leaving one’s heart in turmoil.
Unable to resist, Liang Feng called out his name. Before the words could fully leave his mouth, Yiyan collapsed.
In that instant, Liang Feng didn’t know what he was thinking. He rushed over, and amid the exclamations of those around him, he knelt by Yiyan’s side. With trembling hands, he pressed his fingers against Yiyan’s neck. Bloodstains stuck to his fingertips, and there was a faint, yet persistent pulse.
He was alive. He was still alive! Until this moment, Liang Feng’s fingers trembled uncontrollably, completely beyond his control.
“General!” Wang Long was also startled by this sudden change, rushing forward, but unexpectedly, he ended up behind the lord, not even managing to catch him. Nevertheless, being a military man, he could tell without careful examination that Yiyan had simply fainted from exhaustion. He hastily said, “My Lord, the General is probably just exhausted. He hasn’t rested along the way.”
This explanation, however, drew a glare from Liang Feng. “How did you receive him? Why didn’t you let him rest in Ye City for a few days? Rushing like this, are you seeking death?”
Having never seen the Lord get angry before, Wang Long was dumbfounded, stammering, “Yes, it was General himself, he… he wouldn’t listen to advice.”
This somewhat embarrassed state made Liang Feng’s anger subside slightly. Now was not the time to lose his temper. Grinding his teeth, he stood up and said, “Quickly carry him inside the gate. Medical officers are waiting in the camp!”
In this state, Wang Long didn’t dare to delay. He immediately called for his men, personally lifting Yiyan and heading towards the camp. The makeshift medical tent was already prepared and put to good use. Two medical officers separately checked Yiyan’s pulse, confirming the symptoms of exhaustion and sudden emotional fluctuations leading to fainting. However, there were also quite a few injuries to be treated. The military physician, experienced in treating external wounds, began to expertly remove armor and boots, preparing to clean and bandage Yiyan’s wounds.
The fear that gripped his heart had dissipated. Liang Feng gradually relaxed, carefully examining the figure on the sick bed.
He had become thinner, his injuries distorted his form, his sharpness had diminished, and his face was covered with stubble, looking disheveled like a savage. Yiyan indeed hailed from a barbarian tribe, but for many years, he had always paid great attention to his appearance. Let alone appearing so dirty, Liang Feng hadn’t even seen him with a hint of stubble. The two small braids he used to keep, meticulously combed into a bun, were a testament to his meticulous grooming. If it weren’t for his immutable facial features, his demeanor would be even neater than many scholars.
But at this moment, where was that original appearance?
The damaged armor was thrown on the ground, the clothes were yet to be removed, and the physician paused, turning to the nurse beside him. “Quick, fetch some hot water.”
“What’s going on?” Liang Feng couldn’t help but ask.
The physician cautiously replied, “Reporting to the Lord, General Yi has been fighting too intensely these days. Many wounds couldn’t be treated in time and have festered inside the flesh. If forcibly removed, it will tear off the skin and flesh…”
Liang Feng clenched his fist fiercely. Even during his birth and death, he had never encountered such a situation. Clothes stiffened, grown into the flesh? How many times had he brushed past the reaper along the way, escaping from encirclements?
Seeing the Lord’s silence, the physician continued, “Cleaning the wounds may affect the appearance. My Lord might want to wait outside the tent…”
“No need!” Liang Feng decisively refused. He wanted to see if the injuries on Yiyan’s body were disfiguring.
Hearing this, the physician dared not say more. The hot water arrived, and he began to wipe away the congealed blood. Some areas could indeed be gently peeled off, but many others were forcibly torn open, leaving the fabric in shreds. Numerous wounds, large and small, opened up, some were bright red, and some had started to fester, displaying a dark bluish-black hue. The scent of blood mixed with the foul odor, making it difficult to breathe.
It must be painful. Yiyan’s shoulder muscles were unconsciously tensed, cold sweat oozing out and leaving damp trails in the dirty blood. However, such intense pain didn’t awaken him from unconsciousness. His jaw remained tightly clenched, refusing to let out even a groan.
Liang Feng felt his head buzzing. Every movement of the physician made him shudder involuntarily as if the pain was inflicted on himself.
Another soft sound and large chunks of flesh were torn out along with the clothes. Liang Feng couldn’t help but open his mouth, wanting to rebuke the physician. Couldn’t he be a bit gentler? However, when he saw beads of sweat on the physician’s forehead, he suddenly came to his senses and walked out without looking back. He shouldn’t stay here; with him around, the physician wouldn’t dare to act freely. It was torture for Yiyan.
Outside, Wang Long was anxiously standing at the door. He had just been driven out after inquiring about the situation, but he couldn’t relax and insisted on staying there.
Liang Feng didn’t let him in and asked, “What about the other soldiers?”
How could Wang Long dare not to answer when the Lord asked? “They’re all in Ye City. The general ordered them to rest for a day and join when they can move.”
He did remember that others were made of flesh. Was he made of iron himself? Liang Feng’s expression darkened again. “Are there many severely injured?”
Wang Long nodded, “Many couldn’t even sit steadily on their horses. But those who can return to Ye City should have no life-threatening injuries.”
The implication in his words was clear—those severely wounded were likely fatally injured, unable to make it back.
With over 1,300 soldiers, all elite forces from the Liang family, the loss was painfully unbearable. Liang Feng closed his eyes, “The fallen are all heroes, deserving of condolences and rewards.”
Without them, where would this easy and victorious battle come from? No amount of reward could bring back these loyal and brave souls.
Wang Long’s expression also showed a touch of sadness. They were all brothers from the same battalion; how could they not feel heartbroken? If only he could have led troops into battle this time, maybe he could have saved a few more lives.
For a moment, both were left speechless. Suddenly, a woman’s scream echoed in the tent.
Liang Feng was startled and hurriedly walked back to the tent, asking, “What’s happening?”
The physician awkwardly explained, “It’s nothing. The nurse wanted to wipe the general’s chest wounds, but the general suddenly moved, startling her…”
Indeed, the man on the bed had tightly clenched his arm across his chest, as if grabbing onto something, yet he remained unconscious.
The physician quickly approached, trying to retrieve the object from his hand. After a couple of attempts, he couldn’t budge it. Now, more sweat appeared on the physician’s forehead. General Yi had numerous wounds on his arms and chest that needed attention. What should they do?
Liang Feng stepped forward, gently gripping Yiyan’s hand, and said, “Boyuan, relax. This is the medical tent; no need to be nervous…”
Whether his words reached the man’s ears or the soothing touch eased his tension, the hand finally loosened, and an object slipped from his palm.
Quick on his feet, Liang Feng caught the object that nearly fell to the ground. It felt wet and sticky, coated with both blood and sweat. However, as he looked closely at the object, Liang Feng was stunned.
It was a jade carving of a Buddha. Ancient jade ornaments were rarely worn close to the body; they were more commonly made as waist pendants. This Buddha statue might have originally been intended as a pendant, larger than later jade Buddhas by two circles. Yet, now it hung around Yiyan’s neck. Moreover, the Buddha did not resemble the common carvings found in the market, lacking the distinct features of high-nosed and deep-eyed figures. Instead, it bore a resemblance to the Buddha statues from Shangdang, with features that somewhat resembled his own.
Behind him, Wang Long marveled, “Is this the general’s new carving?”
Liang Feng’s grip tightened on the jade, “Boyuan enjoys carving jade?”
“Yes, while in the camp, he often worked on it himself. It’s said to be a family skill…” Wang Long spoke halfway and suddenly noticed a change in Liang Feng’s expression, quickly closing his mouth. After all, no matter how skilled, carving jade was considered a crude and unworthy craft to boast about.
However, Liang Feng’s complexion changed not due to Wang Long’s words. He thought of a few years ago when Yiyan had given him a jade pendant, also personally carved. What was the purpose of this Buddha statue now?
His heart felt like it had been fiercely kneaded, tinged with bitterness and pain. Since arriving in this world, he had never lacked accessories, and he had no impression of where that jade pendant was placed. Why bother spending time and effort carving these for him…
However, the hand holding the jade pendant tightened even more. Liang Feng, after glancing at the man who remained deeply furrowed in sleep, instructed the medic, “Continue dressing the wounds. Report to me immediately after the examination.”
※
His body trembled slightly, and Yiyan woke up from his dreams. Not because he was fully rested, but because the burning pain felt like forging and chiseling, involuntarily pulling him out of slumber. However, though awake, he felt immobilized. His body seemed torn into pieces, then pieced back together, the pain unbearable. Accompanying the pain was a buzzing noise in his head, making his nasal passages congested, mouth dry, and even breathing difficult.
What had happened to him?
Lying still for a moment, Yiyan finally remembered the scene before he passed out. It was as if he had been struck hard with a whip. His body bounced, trying to sit up. A voice nearby said, “You’ve just finished stitching; lie down properly.”
Yiyan’s entire body stiffened, afraid to move. He could only turn his neck slowly, looking toward the side. At the bedside, there was a small table. A person leaned against it, looking in this direction.
Those refined eyebrows, bright eyes, features he could only see in dreams for over half a year. But now, that person sat beside him, and there seemed to be a weary expression between his brows.
“Lord… Liang… Feng…” His lips trembled a bit, and Yiyan squeezed out the words.
However, in the next moment, as if realizing something, he lowered his head with difficulty and looked at his body. When he saw it, Yiyan’s face changed. He wasn’t wearing much clothing, only numerous bandages and a thin blanket loosely covering his waist. Had he been admitted to the hospital? Had he fainted in front of the lord? In such attire?
Seeing the disheveled and frustrated appearance on the young man’s face, Liang Feng stood up and walked to the bedside.
“Next time, I’ll tie a row of duty soldiers next to you. Even if you’re injured and can’t be treated, you insist on risking your life to rush back. Do you think your life is too precious?” Liang Feng’s voice was indifferent, showing neither joy nor anger. “There are more than twenty injuries all over your body, and six of them reach the bone. A few more days of endurance, and you won’t need a medic.”
Watching the stern expression on that man’s face, Yiyan’s lips trembled again, “This subordinate… this subordinate will definitely…”
This didn’t seem like the cold-faced general who was invincible in front of outsiders. There was a slight tremor in Liang Feng’s tone. He opened his right hand and handed something to Yiyan, “Did you carve this?”
Yiyan instinctively reached for his chest. There was nothing there, only thick bandages.
Had the lord discovered this thing?
Before he could figure out how to respond, Liang Feng spoke again, “Is this meant for me?”
This time, Yiyan’s face turned even redder, but he still struggled to nod.
Liang Feng raised the corner of his mouth, “Women wear Buddhas; men should wear Bodhisattvas.”
There was such a saying? Yiyan felt his mind go blank, gripping the bedsheet beneath him tightly. However, at that moment, the man opposite sighed, “Well, it might be useful to protect you. Keep it then.”
As he spoke, Liang Feng lifted the newly replaced red string and hung the jade Bodhisattva around his neck.
This was an accessory, not meant to be worn around the neck. However, when the graceful Bodhisattva image juxtaposed with that elegant and handsome face, something in Yiyan’s mind snapped.
Suddenly sitting up from the bed, Yiyan grabbed Liang Feng’s arm, “Lord… Lord, did you accept it?”
Liang Feng’s eyebrows furrowed, “You just had stitches. Do you want to rip the wounds open?”
Although his tone was stern, he neither denied nor refused. Yiyan’s mind was in chaos, and he suddenly exerted force, pulling the person into his embrace.
Liang Feng stood by the bedside, completely unprepared, and couldn’t even maintain his balance after this sudden pull. After Yiyan’s severe injuries, his strength was also extremely weak. They both fell onto the bed like this.
Damn it! Liang Feng was shocked and tried to get up. This collision was too forceful; it might compress the wound. However, those hands were holding onto him like a drowning person clutching onto driftwood, fiercely embracing him.
It was a suffocating hug.
Liang Feng stopped struggling. He felt it—the person beneath him was trembling, shivering like a candle in the wind. They were too close, and his face was buried in the neck. A touch of dampness stained his smooth neck.
The person was crying. Silent tears, filled with surprise, grievances, regret, and pain. Was it joy, sorrow, or a mix of emotions? Liang Feng couldn’t tell, nor did he have the time to discern.
A heart, pressed against the warm and moist neck, melted away all struggles, hesitations, troubles, and unwillingness into a wisp of blue smoke. Liang Feng relaxed his body, gently encircling the trembling figure.
He was wrong, terribly wrong. This was not a world where time could be leisurely spent. Even the pampered aristocrats couldn’t live past fifty, and on the battlefield, survival was uncertain. Perhaps a single misstep could lead to a permanent separation.
How could he endure such a farewell?
Just a few decades, that’s all. Liang Feng let out a soft sigh and closed his eyes.
Translator’s corner:
Finally!!!!!!! (づ ᴗ _ᴗ)づ🎁,𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧˚ ༘ ⋆｡˚♡
