Unyielding Spring Mountains - Chapter 77: Support

In the early morning, the air was slightly cold.

Wei Zhen put her veil back on, and before setting off, she also made a mask for Qi Yan. As she reached up to tie it for him, she said, “If you feel tired on the road, you can lean against me to rest.”

She squeezed the horse’s belly hard, and the horse began to gallop.

Qi Yan looked at the person in his arms. Yellow sand and dirt stained her chin, but she hadn’t noticed at all. Her cheeks were pale, her eyes looking straight ahead, focused on riding the horse.

Clearly, she was much slimmer than him, yet she still offered to let Qi Yan, who was far stronger than her, lean on her.

She must have rushed from the capital to this place, likely riding day and night without any rest, yet she never once complained of hardship.

An aching feeling rose in Qi Yan’s heart. He slowly tightened his embrace around the young girl. “You guarded me all night. You probably haven’t rested well either. I’ll take the reins, and you can lean against me and sleep a little longer.”

Wei Zhen tilted her head up. “I’m fine.”

Sensing something was wrong with his emotions, her clear eyes curved slightly. “Then how about we take turns resting, alright?”

Qi Yan didn’t answer but simply said, “Let’s hurry while it’s still daylight.”

They turned around, trying to retrace their original route.

But yesterday’s sandstorm had covered all traces. The vast wilderness was empty, with nothing but endless golden sand and no sign of the traces left from the previous day’s battle.

The sun’s heat made the sand scorching hot, and even the horse’s steps grew sluggish.

After some time, Wei Zhen, jolting along on the horse’s back, noticed they had just passed by the same rocky wall.

They had already passed by this place several times.

He led her to a sheltered rock, helped her dismount, and sit down. “The afternoon sun is too hot. Rest here for a while.”

“What about you?” Wei Zhen uncapped the water pouch, took a sip, and handed it to him. Qi Yan glanced at it but didn’t take it. “I’ll go ahead and scout the path.”

As he was about to leave, a hand tightly grabbed him.

Amidst the vast yellow sands was her snowy, stunning face, full of panic. “You can’t go off alone. What if we get separated by a sandstorm like yesterday? Either you stay here and rest with me, or I go with you.”

Wei Zhen pulled forcefully, and Qi Yan ended up entering the stone cave with her. Not long after, Xing Ye’s horse also squeezed in.

What was already a somewhat spacious cave suddenly felt particularly cramped.

Wei Zhen held the water pouch to Qi Yan’s hand this time, staring at him, determined to make him drink.

Qi Yan accepted the pouch, his Adam’s apple bobbing a few times. He only took a slight sip but made it appear as if he drank several mouthfuls before sealing the pouch and handing it back to her.

Wei Zhen smiled slightly.

Leaning against the stone wall, Qi Yan looked at the young girl’s bright eyes, watching her gently stroke the horse’s head and pour some water for it to drink. The corners of his mouth curved slightly.

He said, “The afternoon sun is fierce. We can rest before moving on. You should try to sleep for a bit.”

Wei Zhen nodded, resting her head on his shoulder, showing her reliance on him so naturally. Qi Yan’s body stiffened, then he slowly raised his hand to gently embrace her.

Hot winds swept through the stone walls, and the sound of sand flowing whispered by their ears.

Before long, Qi Yan awoke from a light sleep, hearing noises from outside and tightening his grip on the sword beside him.

Someone was approaching.

The sound of hooves drew near and then stopped around them. Voices of conversation came from above.

Through a small opening, Qi Yan saw the horse hooves just inches away.

“Did Qi Yan really enter this desert?”

“That’s for sure. The Seventh Prince has ordered Qi Yan’s capture, dead or alive. There are soldiers stationed all around the desert’s perimeter.”

“We’ve been searching for so long and haven’t seen any trace of him. Could he have already perished beneath the sands?”

“Even if he’s dead, we have to bring his body back to report! The Seventh Prince said it doesn’t matter if he’s alive or dead!”

Qi Yan looked up and suddenly noticed that his and Wei Zhen’s footprints were scattered outside the cave.

The voices outside abruptly fell silent, and Qi Yan’s hand slowly moved to the sword’s hilt.

When a face poked into the cave, Qi Yan swiftly drew his sword, piercing through the man’s throat in an instant, blood splattering all over the ground.

Qi Yan stepped out of the cave. Another man was startled, hastily begging for mercy while pretending to drop his weapon, only to lunge at Qi Yan. Qi Yan quickly subdued him and slit his throat.

Blood spread across the sand, winding like a river under the blinding sunlight, appearing particularly striking.

Wei Zhen emerged from the cave with her satchel, stunned at the sight of the two bodies on the ground.

Qi Yan said, “You previously told me that Ji Yuan was involved in this battle…”

Wei Zhen knew it would be difficult for him to accept, but she still told him the truth. “Yes. During the Battle of Zhuke Pass, he and Pang Zhen plotted from within, revealing our army’s movements to the Qi Kingdom in advance.”

Qi Yan’s eyes turned icy cold, his facial muscles twitching as he suppressed his emotions, lowering his head to wipe the blood from his sword with a cloth, saying nothing further. He only uttered, “I understand.”

His voice was thick with restraint, filled with countless intense emotions.

Wei Zhen stepped forward and hugged him. “Ji Yuan is seizing power. He wants to eliminate you and has sent troops to hunt you down. We must leave quickly.”

Qi Yan replied, “Alright.”

He held her as they mounted the horse and rode forward.

The perimeter of the desert was surrounded by Ji Yuan’s troops. Returning would be throwing themselves into a trap, so they had to change direction.

Their only path was to cross the desert and reach the border between Qi and Jin.

Billowing dust rolled endlessly, with only bleak desolation in sight.

They traveled on and off, and when night fell, the darkness made it difficult to continue. They found a natural stone cave and hid inside.

Cold winds seeped in, and Wei Zhen trembled.

Qi Yan put away the sheepskin map and looked up to see her pale face. He reached out and held her in his arms, asking, “Are you cold?”

“It’s alright.” Wei Zhen buried her head in the crook of his neck.

“You’re breathing cold air; how can it be alright?” Qi Yan called over the white horse to block the entrance.

The trembling lessened, and she looked up, asking, “The desert is hard to cross. Qi Yan, can we really make it out?”

Qi Yan nodded. “Observing the stars to determine direction is a skill every general should have. I’ve been checking, and we’ve been heading east.”

Wei Zhen looked at him. His face was so pale it lacked any trace of blood, his thick eyelashes lowered, and his features tinted with darkness. Once, he would have spoken such words with spirited pride, but now, only silence remained.

Wei Zhen raised her hand, her fingertips smoothing the furrow between his brows. “You only had less than ten thousand soldiers and managed to hold off Qi’s tens of thousands of troops, trapping them in the valley. You’ve done extremely well.”

Qi Yan’s voice was hoarse. “Is that so…”

Wei Zhen straightened her body. “Your life isn’t defined by this single battle. You will win many more great victories in the future. You can’t let this one defeat bring you down. You are the Great General.”

She understood the knot in his heart. Her palm gently caressed his face. “Whatever you have to say, share it with me. Don’t close yourself off.”

Qi Yan looked up and saw her eyes glistening with moisture. Her lips moved closer, kissing him softly on the brow.

A tender sensation spread from the place her lips touched, slowly radiating across his skin. His eyelids twitched slightly.

“I’m afraid you’ll fall into despair. I know you won’t, but I still worry. Seeing you blame yourself makes me feel pain…” She spoke, her words rushed and panicked.

He leaned closer and grasped her hand. “Don’t feel sad because of me.”

Wei Zhen smiled. “It’s late, and we have a long journey tomorrow. Let’s rest early.”

Qi Yan lay down with her, shielding her from the cold wind. When the steady rhythm of her breathing indicated she had fallen asleep, he lowered his head and, as she had done, gently kissed her brow.

Qi Yan’s voice was barely audible, “I shouldn’t let you suffer alongside me.”

The next moment, Wei Zhen suddenly reached out and hugged him. Qi Yan’s body stiffened, his heartbeat thundering in his chest, only gradually calming down after a long time.

In that moment of perfect silence, it was as if only the two of them remained in the world, holding each other.

Qi Yan’s condition was truly poor. The next morning, Wei Zhen couldn’t shake her worry. Seeing how pale his face was, she knew he hadn’t rested well.

They continued their journey eastward. The path seemed endless, and as they went on, their food dwindled, the horse’s strength gradually depleted, and Wei Zhen’s throat burned so much she couldn’t speak. Several times, she felt she could no longer go on, her mind clouded and dizzy. But knowing that he was still by her side gave her the strength to grit her teeth and press on.

By the fourth day, they were still wandering aimlessly, and their water supply was nearly exhausted.

The horse was barely hanging on. Carrying two people, it was almost at its limit, letting out low, sorrowful whines, like sobs.

They began walking on foot. The scorching sand was like molten lava, capable of burning through one’s heels.

Wei Zhen walked for an entire morning, her feet soon covered with blisters.

Not wanting Qi Yan to notice, she let him walk ahead. But every step came with a sharp, stabbing pain, as if she were treading on scorching blades.

Qi Yan walked a little further, then turned back to see her shoes stained with blood, leaving a trail of bloody footprints in the sand.

Ignoring her protests, Qi Yan stubbornly lifted her onto the horse.

Wei Zhen argued with him, her throat almost on fire, “The horse will walk even slower if it carries someone. Only by me walking can we both travel further.”

Qi Yan forced his emotions down. “Let’s rest for now.”

Wei Zhen couldn’t hold on any longer. “Alright.”

They entered the cave, and Wei Zhen opened the water pouch, staring at the water inside, her gaze lingering for a long time.

There was only this little bit of water, which had to sustain her, Qi Yan, and Xingye to complete the rest of the journey.

Wei Zhen sealed the mouth of the water pouch and took a shallow sip.

She was so drowsy that as soon as her head rested against the stone wall, she immediately fell asleep. When she woke up, the burning sensation in her throat seemed to have eased. She licked her lips, feeling a trace of moisture, and instinctively reached for the water pouch, only to find that about half of the water was gone.

She suddenly realized something, scrambled up from the sand, and hurriedly went to look for Qi Yan, but there was no one around.

For a moment, she thought he was gone.

She quickly walked out of the cave and immediately saw his figure.

He stood beside Xingye, his hand gently stroking the horse’s fur, as if saying something to him, while his other hand held a gleaming dagger. The horse’s eyes were moist, letting out a low whine like a sob.

Wei Zhen’s eyes instantly turned red. “Qi Yan!”

Qi Yan turned around, and Wei Zhen walked up and grabbed his dagger, her hands trembling. “What are you trying to do?”

“Nothing,” Qi Yan’s eyelashes quivered. “Just saying a few words to him, afraid he might not be able to hold on.”

A thought surfaced in her mind, and the fear within her body surged upward. How did he, in his past life, make it out of the wilderness all alone without food or water?

Wei Zhen said, “This is the horse that grew up with you…”

Qi Yan quickly responded, “I didn’t plan to kill him, just to take off his saddle.”

Wei Zhen looked back and saw that the saddle had indeed been halfway removed. She let out a sigh of relief. “I’ll go get the water pouch. I’ve rested too long and delayed our journey. Let’s set off quickly.”

After she left, Qi Yan lowered his eyes, the sharp blade reflecting his dark, emotionless gaze and the horse’s sorrowful eyes.

They were nearing the end of their food and water supplies. What would happen then? They would have to drink blood and eat raw meat. And with one more mouth to feed, their chances of survival would be reduced.

When he had just bid farewell to Xingye, it was as if the horse sensed its fate. It didn’t resist but merely rubbed against him with tears as if saying goodbye.

But Qi Yan still couldn’t do it…

He closed his eyes, forcing his tears back into his eyes, and gritted his teeth as he shoved the dagger back into his waist before stepping forward to hug the horse.

Qi Yan said softly, “I will make sure you and she get out of here. We will definitely make it out.”

The horse let out a sorrowful whine, extending its tongue to lick his cheek.

They set off again. This time, Qi Yan removed all the heavy items from Xingye, including the armor, and left them in the desert.

Wei Zhen watched as the wind and sand quickly covered the armor and murmured, “This was specially crafted for you by the king.”

Qi Yan responded with a faintly sorrowful voice, “But it’s too heavy. Xingye can’t carry it anymore.”

He had carried the armor all this way, only now discarding it, forced to do so by sheer necessity. Qi Yan repeatedly stroked the remaining pieces of armor but ultimately only kept a helmet and a belt.

They continued their journey lightly packed, supporting each other.

The sun set and rose again. Wei Zhen began coughing constantly, coughing up several mouthfuls of blood. When Qi Yan asked, he realized that she hadn’t drunk any water since the day before.

Qi Yan raised his hand and forcibly poured water into her mouth. Wei Zhen collapsed onto the sand, coughing and choking. She said, “You gave me some water while I was napping yesterday. I’ve already drunk enough. What about you?”

Her face was streaked with water, indistinguishable from tears, and she cried, “You haven’t been sleeping well these past few days. I’m afraid you’ll collapse at any moment. There’s only a little water left. If we both keep drinking, neither of us might survive. We have to ration it…”

Wei Zhen sobbed in his arms, her chest heaving. Looking at the girl who was on the verge of death in his arms, Qi Yan’s eyes grew red as he said, “We’ll reach the oasis soon.”

Wei Zhen’s lips were pale. “Didn’t you say it would still take several more days?”

“We’re not going that way anymore. We’re going somewhere else; it’s closer, but…”

“But what?” Wei Zhen asked in confusion. If there was a closer oasis, why hadn’t they gone there before?

Qi Yan didn’t finish his sentence. That oasis was near the territory of the Xiongnu, extremely dangerous. But right now, surviving was what mattered most.

“If we walk a bit faster, we might reach it by tomorrow.”

Wei Zhen nodded, as if finally catching a glimpse of hope.

She tried to stand but lacked the strength, so Qi Yan placed her on the horse.

He led the horse, which carried her. The two of them and the horse trudged through the boundless desert, the scorching sun stretching their shadows long.

Qi Yan’s condition was much worse than hers. Lying on the horse’s back in a daze, Wei Zhen heard him say, “Wei Zhen, I need to tell you, if I can’t keep walking and lose consciousness, don’t give me the last bit of water.”

Wei Zhen turned her eyes, feeling as if he was preparing for his final moments. “Qi Yan, what do you mean…”

He said, “You and Xingye should leave. Xingye can carry you to the oasis.”

Wei Zhen tried to get up, tried to scream, but she had no strength left. She clenched his sleeve with her last bit of energy and pulled him close. “Aren’t you going to take revenge? Aren’t you going to marry me? If you die, I’ll be heartbroken. You promised you wouldn’t make me sad…”

Wei Zhen spoke each word, her chest filling with scorching air, causing her body to ache. She said, “Then let’s get married right here!”

“No!”

“Why not?”

Wei Zhen dismounted, stumbling and falling to her knees before struggling to her feet. She could no longer feel the pain. Looking at him, tears rolled from her eyes as she demanded, “Is it because you think having a wedding here, so rough and humble, would be unfair to me?”

Qi Yan’s Adam’s apple moved as his clear eyes grew misty.

“Then walk with me…” Wei Zhen looked at the man before her. “I said I would stay by your side. Can’t you do the same for me?”

She held his shoulders and leaned her face toward his. Their parched lips touched, but in that instant, a trace of moisture seemed to spread from their tongues.

Golden rays pierced the sky, pouring down upon the earth, burning passionately on their bodies.

Her tears fell, and she said, “If I go ahead alone and something happens, what will I do without you by my side?”

Her tears dampened his heart. Hearing her words, he finally embraced her and said, “Alright.”

The two of them rose from the sand and continued their arduous journey, their fingers intertwined.

The sun at the end of the horizon grew increasingly fierce, its scorching rays making them feel as if their skin and clothes had fused together.

After a long while, dust rose from the distant dunes. Hoofbeats echoed, and a cloud of dust swirled.

Qi Yan frowned, pulling Wei Zhen along to find cover, but all around them was sand, leaving them completely exposed.

A group of people rode swiftly on horseback, their white garments billowing like a whirlwind, quickly surrounding Wei Zhen and Qi Yan.

Wei Zhen’s vision blurred, and she desperately tried to wave away the dust. Through the haze, she saw the group wearing white silver armor, resembling a white whirlwind.

“Who are you? Do you know whose territory you’ve entered?” one of them asked.

Qi Yan pulled Wei Zhen behind him, trying to protect her.

The riders parted, revealing their leader, whose gaze was sharp as a hook, scanning the two of them. “So, you’re Central Plains people!”

“If they’re from the Central Plains, there’s nothing worth pitying. Take them back to the tribe!” the leader ordered.