Chapter 75: Arrow Wound Part 1

Ana Yanran did not say a single word. She simply turned her horse around and rode away. This silent gesture indicated that she was letting the two of them go.

Xun Changqing gazed at that lonely retreating figure, which emanated a bone-chilling coldness. The woman she once knew had been like a depleted volcanic mountain, but now she was beginning to freeze over slowly. Xun Changqing herself had been enveloped in that blaze for eight years, and now the situation was irreparably damaged.

This arrow would settle the debt of her upbringing. She tightened her grip on Wei Lingci’s arm, took a deep breath, and slowly stood up. Gazing at the horse that had also stopped a few zhang away, her eyes flickered as she said, “Ana Yanran has left. We should hurry and leave this place too.”

Wei Lingci gave her a glance and tightened her hold on her arm. “Can you ride a horse? Why don’t I carry you?”

Xun Changqing’s face had turned pale from blood loss. This color reminded Wei Lingci of Mang Mountain—her body had been covered in wounds back then, and she had smiled with equal desolation. That time it had been for Wei Lingci’s sake, but this time it was for Ana Yanran. Perhaps the bond was truly severed, with no more extravagant illusions. The moment of falling into hell was the hardest to endure, yet Xun Changqing always faced it with a smile—perhaps not wanting to worry her.

The two leaned against each other. Xun Changqing gently pushed her away and walked directly toward the horse, saying softly all the while, “Bai Yan will be back soon. Two people on one horse would be too slow. I can hold on for a bit.”

Seeing her determination, Wei Lingci said no more. But her hand still felt the sticky warmth of blood, a shocking crimson that stained it. Watching Xun Changqing’s slightly trembling steps, she hurried forward, helped her onto the horse’s back, and whispered, “Yun Shen is waiting for us ahead. Just endure it a little longer.”

On the way there, Wei Lingci had anticipated something like this. Even if Ana Yanran wouldn’t harm them amid her army, others might not watch them leave so calmly. Yun Shen was familiar with the area and had chosen a small path back to Ji Province. After crossing one mountain, they would reach Ji Province City. They still had to take the official road at some point, but Bai Yan had only brought a few hundred men in pursuit—she wouldn’t dare be too brazen outside Ji Province City.

Summer’s yellow sands filled the sky, the blazing sun like fire. The official road returned to silence. The numbing pain in her arm made Xun Changqing’s head dizzy, the roaring wind in her ears. Her mind seemed to lose control; she only knew to grip the reins tightly with effort. Before her eyes, there was only a blur of yellow sand, no other scenery.

She gasped for breath, but it felt stuck in her chest, stifled and hard to exhale. The oppressive heat made sweat blur her vision. Warm liquid trickled over her wrist—it must be blood from the wound. She glanced down at it and let out a wry chuckle in her heart. She really shouldn’t have listened to Yuan Man. There had never been true blood ties; what was there to cling to?

Her mother’s kindness and gentleness, her detachment from worldly strife—all of it was fake. The past must have been a dream that Ana Yanran put on for the world, while she alone had immersed herself in it, unable to extricate herself. Only now, in pain, did she realize it was all illusion.

The wind grew louder, the noise in her ears more chaotic. Her grip on the reins gradually weakened, her eyes glazing over. Her eyelids felt heavy; she couldn’t help wanting to close them. Her mind filled with childhood memories, flashing back and forth. She shook her head, feeling as if heaven and earth were trembling. She pulled hard on the reins.

Wei Lingci lagged half a step behind, unable to keep up with her speed. Logically, an injured person should ride slower, but Xun Changqing’s horse was going much faster than usual—faster even than before. Her figure swayed, as if she might fall at any moment. Wei Lingci hurriedly shouted, “Changqing, stop…”

Her shout vanished into the wind, traceless.

Panic rose in Wei Lingci’s heart as well. She spurred her horse to catch up, matching her pace. The speed was astonishing. Gauging the distance between them, she reached out with one hand to grab Xun Changqing’s clothing corner, yanked her over forcefully, leaped onto Xun Changqing’s horse, seized the reins with her right hand, and pulled her into her embrace.

The thick scent of blood followed the wind. Wei Lingci frowned slightly. She gradually slowed the horse. A high mountain appeared ahead, and several figures jumped out from the shadows—the leader was Yun Shen.

The two sharing one horse startled Yun Shen. She hurried over with her men. “Miss Wei, how are you? Are you injured?”

Wei Lingci gave a soft acknowledgment and flung away the horsewhip in her hand. Amid the scorching heat, a chill inexplicably settled over her. She tightly encircled Xun Changqing’s waist and softly called, “Changqing… Changqing, how do you feel?”

Under the blazing sun, her cheeks remained bloodless. She hadn’t heard Wei Lingci’s words; she only lifted her gaze to see Yun Shen’s anxious face and snapped awake. “You’ve come… I’m a bit dizzy… but… it’s nothing serious.”

Seeing her pallor and smelling the blood in the air, Yun Shen grew concerned. Wounds were common on the battlefield, but Xun Changqing’s status was noble, and this trip had been strongly advocated by Yuan Man. If something happened to her here, the Imperial Capital wouldn’t let them off easily.

She helped Xun Changqing down and supported her to sit under the shade of a tree. Rolling up her right sleeve revealed it soaked red with blood. Riding hard had only torn the wound wider, worsening it.

They had grown up in the army and, as women, had spent time shadowing military doctors—they all knew basic medical skills. She checked her pulse, pondered for a moment, met Wei Lingci’s anxious eyes, and stammered, “The weather is so hot right now; we need to remove the arrowhead first. But the wound medicine we brought is just our usual stuff—it’s not the best… I’m afraid…”

The shade under the tree brought a cool breeze that soothed their agitation. Wei Lingci crouched down, took out a handkerchief, and wiped the blood from Xun Changqing’s wrist, revealing pale skin. She said calmly, “It’s fine. I brought some wound medicine too. But how long until we reach Ji Province from here?”

“We planned to take the shortcut and ride fast; we should’ve arrived by midnight. But with the little princess injured, we might not make it even tomorrow. The key is her wound can’t be delayed—the heat could cause infection, and that would be even worse.”

These were basic truths Yun Shen understood; how could Wei Lingci, with her two lifetimes of experience, not know? Wound infection could lead to other illnesses, even death. She furrowed her brows, looked around for a moment, and asked, “Is there water? There should be a spring in the mountains.”