Xue Jingyuan froze, knowing that the black-robed youth before him wasn't just speaking idly.
It was impossible to prove his identity now, and forcing his way in would be futile.
Seeing that Xue Zining was likely not here, he had no intention of disturbing the veteran general.
"Alright, I will visit again in the future." With that, Xue Jingyuan turned and left.
As Chu Ling'er watched him depart, she let out a sigh of relief. She glanced back at the horse with concern; the young girl had not woken up.
"Yuan Zhao gege, I'm worried about leaving her here alone," Chu Ling'er said, looking at Yuan Zhao with a hint of pleading.
"When her injuries heal, let her leave," Yuan Zhao replied before riding away.
Chu Ling'er's eyes lit up. "Yuan Zhao gege, don't worry. As soon as she wakes up, I'll let her go."
When Xue Zining opened her eyes, everything around her felt unfamiliar.
A delicate, pretty face appeared before her. "Older sister, you're awake?"
"Where is this?" Xue Zining felt completely lost.
"This is Xueling Pass. Yuan Zhao gege and I found you poisoned in the woods ahead, so we brought you back," the young girl answered without any concealment.
Xue Zining was slightly taken aback. General Yuan, who garrisoned Xueling Pass, was a hero her father had spoken of since childhood.
Back then, when foreign enemies invaded the Snow Country, it was not only the Crown Prince who personally led the troops but also the valiant resistance of the veteran General Yuan that repelled the invaders.
She was indeed eager to meet this General Yuan, the hero who fought against the enemy.
"Ling'er, Uncle Chu is looking for you," a voice called from outside the door.
Chu Ling'er stuck out her tongue. She had forgotten her father wanted to see her. "Sister, I'll be right back. Don't wander around; this is a military camp."
Xue Zining nodded. "Go ahead!" Her body still needed several days to recover; it was impossible for her to get out of bed right now.
Chu Ling'er left.
Just as Xue Zining was about to close her eyes to rest, she suddenly opened them again. A figure in black appeared in her line of sight.
The youth's handsome face was cold and distant, his gaze holding glints of frost.
His entire being seemed to be enveloped in frost.
"Did you save me?" Xue Zining remembered seeing this youth before she lost consciousness.
"The poison is gone. You should leave immediately," the black-robed youth's voice was exceptionally cold.
For some inexplicable reason, Xue Zining recalled Yan Zhao from her past life, as Yan Zhao in her previous life had been just as cold as this youth.
"Are you afraid I'll stay here?" Xue Zining asked calmly.
The black-robed youth's gaze sharpened, and he said coldly, "This place will soon become a battlefield, and you have no one to protect you here."
Xue Zining's eyes flickered slightly. So, it was for this reason. Looking at the youth who was cold on the outside but warm within, she smiled faintly. "Isn't everyone aware that with General Yuan at Xueling Pass, the enemy wouldn't dare to launch a surprise attack?"
She saw the black-robed youth slowly close his eyes, a hint of helplessness flashing across his face, before opening them again. "The Crown Prince is dead, the Han Kingdom is stirring, and Xueling Pass is no longer peaceful."
Xue Zining trembled, recalling the urgent dispatch from General Mo received by Consort Mo in the palace – foreign invasion.
Unfortunately, with the Crown Prince's death, Xue Jingyuan was solely focused on pursuing her, completely forgetting about the foreign invasion.
"I'm sorry." If Yan Zhao hadn't been trying to save her, he wouldn't have died, nor would the Snow Country have fallen into this predicament. It was all because of her, in a way.
Yuan Zhao froze, not understanding why the young girl was apologizing.
"What does this have to do with you? Grandpa and I will defend Xueling Pass," Yuan Zhao's gaze held a hint of determination.
"Can I stay?" Xue Zining made up her mind. She wanted to protect the country Yan Zhao had protected.
Yuan Zhao's gaze turned cold. So, she still didn't want to leave.
"No, it's too dangerous here. Ling'er also needs to return to the city, so you can go with her," Yuan Zhao's tone was icy and resolute, leaving Xue Zining no room for objection.
In the evening, Chu Ling'er returned, looking unhappy. Xue Zining saw Chu Ling'er's dejected expression and couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong?"
Chu Ling'er bit her lip and said resentfully, "Father wants me to return to the city, but I don't want to. I want to stay with Yuan Zhao gege."
"Ling'er meimei, Uncle Chu is doing this for your own good. After all, if a war breaks out here, they won't be able to look after you."
Xue Zining had never experienced the brutality of war, but she knew of it.
Chu Ling'er's father must have been worried that if war erupted, Ling'er would be unable to protect herself.
"I don't need him to protect me; I can protect myself," Chu Ling'er said earnestly, lifting her pretty face.
"War isn't just about self-protection; it also involves killing. Have you ever killed anyone?" Xue Zining asked.
Chu Ling'er was stunned, her face turning slightly pale. She turned to Xue Zining and asked, "Older sister, you... have you killed anyone?"
Xue Zining did not answer. In her past life, her hands were clean, but in this life, her hands were already stained with blood.
Xue Zining didn't expect that by evening, she would be picked up and placed into a carriage by the person who saved her, Yuan Zhao gege, as Chu Ling'er called him.
"You'd best not do anything to hurt Ling'er, or I won't let you off."
The youth placed her on the thick cushions in the carriage, his eyes sharp.
Xue Zining remained silent. Anything she said now would be useless.
The youth glanced at her, withdrew his gaze, and instructed the escorts.
Xue Zining didn't want to eavesdrop, but her hearing, second only to Feng Wu's, allowed her to overhear the young man named Yuan Zhao's instructions to the escorts.
He told them to observe her carefully and, if she showed any ill intent, to kill her without hesitation.
Xue Zining felt a chill run through her. She was now a defenseless young girl, and they were this wary of her?
If she wanted to make a move, would these people be able to stop her?
Dream on!
"Yuan Zhao gege, you really can't let me stay?" Chu Ling'er looked at Yuan Zhao with a pitiable expression.
Yuan Zhao shook his head. "Ling'er, returning to the city is the safest. Be good and don't be willful."
"Alright, then you, Grandpa Yuan, Father, and everyone else must return safely."
"Okay," Yuan Zhao replied.
Chu Ling'er nodded. "Then I'll wait for you in the city."
"Ling'er, be careful of the person in the carriage," Yuan Zhao whispered.
Chu Ling'er blinked in surprise, but seeing Yuan Zhao's serious expression, she nodded. "Don't worry, Yuan Zhao gege, I understand."
"Go," Yuan Zhao said lightly.
Chu Ling'er got into the carriage after taking three steps back and looking back each time. Only when she could no longer see Yuan Zhao gege's figure did she pull down the carriage curtain and sigh repeatedly.
"They will return safely," Xue Zining couldn't help but say.
Chu Ling'er looked at her, still unsatisfied. "Older sister, please don't try to comfort me. In war, someone is always injured or killed. I selfishly hope that the people I care about will be well."
"They will be," Xue Zining said slowly, taking Chu Ling'er's hand.
Suddenly, the carriage stopped.
Chu Ling'er lifted the curtain and asked, "Uncle Li, why..."
Before she could finish, Uncle Li, pierced by several arrows, lunged towards her. Using the last of his strength, he uttered a single word: "Run..."