Inside the Turkic Yatai, all the slaughter, fear, and struggle were completely left behind after a burst of galloping horses. When Shang Ruyi turned back to look, she could only see the grayish grassland in the dim sky, like fragments of memory after waking from a nightmare.

But the feeling of the nightmare still lingered on her.

Just as she was in a daze, unsure where to cast her gaze, a sudden shout of men and horses came from ahead. She immediately turned her head, only to see the army brought by Yu Wenye, already close at hand.

A familiar, sturdy and reckless figure immediately rode over.

"Sister Ruyi!"

It was Shantong’er!

Seeing him, though her mood was tangled with countless emotions, Shang Ruyi couldn’t help but feel a surge of joy in her heart, ready to smile. But before she could say anything, another rider came out to block Shantong’er’s path.

Shantong’er had to rein in his horse, seeing who it was, he pouted: "Seventh Brother, what are you doing?"

Blocking him was Shen Tu Tai.

This tall and mighty man glared at him. Though fierce and daunting in appearance, his gaze was only reproachful, not intimidating, saying, "This is Princess Qin, you mustn’t be reckless anymore. Also—"

As he said, he turned around to Yu Wenye and said, "Your Highness, is everything alright?"

Shang Ruyi lowered her head, only hearing a deep "Hmm" overhead.

Shen Tu Tai continued, "Then we now—"

"The army turns back, heading immediately to Taiyuan. You don’t need to move too fast, nor should you lose formation, lest the enemy attacks and cannot respond in time. Also, let Shantong’er lead a troop at the rear to guard. If the Turkic soldiers try to follow, give a warning immediately, no mistakes allowed."

Shen Tu Tai replied, "Yes!"

As he spoke, he stretched out his arm, giving a tap to the confused Shantong’er. Shantong’er’s bald head received a tap, immediately saying, "Yes!"

Yu Wenye nodded, then shook the reins, and his steed galloped directly forward through the passage opened by the army.

Watching them leave, Shen Tu Tai turned to Shantong’er and said, "You!"

Shantong’er stuck out his tongue.

Shen Tu Tai, while giving orders, also said to Shantong’er: "You lead your men at the rear. Be alert next time, or I’ll let you single-handedly attack the Yatai, let’s see what you’ll do then!"

Everyone was tense; the anticipated fierce battle did not come. Although some hot-blooded men were slightly disappointed, to rescue Princess Qin without losing a single soldier, and to return safely to Taiyuan was a good thing for them. Thus, though neatly forming teams, their expressions were inevitably joyful, and some even began to chuckle softly, slowly turning southward.

Yu Wenye and Shang Ruyi’s horse quickly passed through the army, taking the lead.

Gradually, the army was left behind, surrounded almost only by vast, deserted grassland. The cold wind whistling past, although blocked by the person holding her tightly, Shang Ruyi heard more clearly the breathing overhead, one breath after another, warm exhales brushing across her forehead.

She buried her face deeper.

The two of them, just quietly, their horse speed gradually slowing.

After a long time, she finally heard a deep sigh, surprisingly, giving an impression of helplessness, even submission.

Shang Ruyi’s heart skipped another beat.

Before she could make any response, she heard Yu Wenye’s deep voice, "Shen Wuzheng is not dead."

"...!"

Shang Ruyi was startled, instinctively wanting to look up.

But before she could lift her head, his cold voice sounded again, pressing Shang Ruyi’s head downward with invisible pressure: "Don’t look at me!"

"...?"

Shang Ruyi was stunned again.

But she obediently complied, restraining herself from looking up to examine his face for clues in his words, though her heartbeat was already more tumultuous than the galloping hooves earlier. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Shen Wuzheng, not dead?!

Really not dead?

And before—

"Before, I lied to you."

"..."

"No, I didn’t lie to you; I just didn’t explain. There wasn’t time to explain."

"..."

Shang Ruyi’s heart sank again.

Though her mind was chaotic, she vaguely recalled when Shen Wuzheng’s "death notice" came, Yu Wenye came very quickly, and on reflection, he seemed to have something to say to her.

Only, he didn’t get a chance to speak; she spoke first.

And what she said—

A cold wind suddenly blew, as if to take away the last warmth from her already icy body, but inexplicably, Shang Ruyi couldn’t feel the cold. It wasn’t numb from the cold, but after a surge in her chest, an almost scalding hot stream spread through her entire body in an instant.

Her eyes reddened.

Her throat choked repeatedly, finally, after much struggle, words squeezed out hoarsely: "Really?"

Yu Wenye said, "I’m not lying to you."

"..."

"You should trust me; I wouldn’t lie to you about this, not at this moment."

"..."

"So—"

Shang Ruyi’s throat choked again, "So, what?"

"..."

Yu Wenye was silent for a long time, though he didn’t speak, Shang Ruyi felt the hand encircling her waist exerting a slight force, seemingly embedding her slender body into his own. But just as the force was about to suffocate Shang Ruyi, it eased off immediately.

Then he sighed deeply.

This sigh, compared to earlier, seemed to carry more helplessness, even a sense of resignation.

Shang Ruyi thought she had felt wrong, instinctively wanting to look up; but once again, faster than her action was Yu Wenye’s voice, although not as harsh as before.

He said, "Don’t look at me!"

"..."

Shang Ruyi’s raised face froze there, though this low call, and the horse’s sudden movement, made the two on horseback jostle, Shang Ruyi’s face crashing into his arms.

Then she heard a deep, muffled voice coming from his chest.

It seemed not he who spoke, but his heart that spoke—

"I accept."

"...?!"

Shang Ruyi’s breath hitched.

Accept? What does it mean?

What did he accept?

Though filled with countless doubts, Shang Ruyi still remembered his words, dared not look up, only to hear his muffled voice from the chest again: "You want to use me, then use me."

After speaking, he seemed to grit his teeth.

"Even if being used, I, Yu Wenye, am still the most useful one beneath the heavens."