Chapter 174: The ruined gates

Ru Yi looked between the three sisters, feeling an ache settle somewhere deep inside her chest. She realized that they were giving her exactly what she had spent so much time trying to convince herself she didn’t need.

For a brief moment, she allowed herself to imagine what it would feel like to stay with them. Not until her deal with Han Shuying ended, but permanently.

The thought frightened her more than anything else, because somewhere beneath all the excuses she had made, she already knew what she wanted.

She wanted them. All three of them. And that was exactly why she had to leave before it became unbearable for her to leave them.

Across the camp, Kael watched the exchange in silence. His expression was fully controlled despite the unease building inside him.

The sisters were attached to Ru Yi deeper than he thought. And every moment he saw them with her seemed to pull them further away from the story he remembered.

And even now, they’d given her something that belonged to their mother. There was no greater way to show their love than that.

And yet, Ru Yi still hadn’t told them the truth.

Kael’s eyes narrowed as he watched her hide the pendant beneath her clothing. He’d overheard her confession to Han Shuying, and truly he’d been shocked to the bone.

He could expose her now, but that would be too hasty. His gaze shifted to Ashen Fortress, waiting for them. He had to bid his time carefully.

"Is everyone ready?" Han Shuying called across the clearing. "We need to leave now!"

The edge in her voice was very visible, it made Ru Yi gulp. She moved with the others as they gathered their belongings.

Within a short while, the horses were saddled and the remaining provisions secured. Han Shuying tightened the straps around her horse before approaching Ru Yi.

"You’re riding with me." There was no room to protest, her words were final.

-

-

The mountains seemed to stretch endlessly around them, their jagged peaks rising on either side of the narrow road while a cold wind swept through the pass and tugged at Ru Yi’s cloak.

There was only the sound of hooves against the rocky ground and the occasional cry of a distant bird disturbing the silence.

Ru Yi sat in front of Han Shuying on the horse, holding lightly onto the reins while Han Shuying kept one hand firmly around her waist to keep her steady.

For most of the journey neither of them spoke. Until, eventually, Han Shuying broke the silence.

"We’re leaving immediately we get to Ashen Fortress," she said, low enough for only Ru Yi’s ears.

Ru Yi’s fingers tightened around the reins. She had known this was coming, but hearing it spoken aloud still made something inside her sink.

"I know."

"Do you?"

Ru Yi nodded.

The thought of returning to the capital was even more terrifying now that Qingyue said she belonged to them. She hadn’t even worked out a plan on how to confess to them. She could only hope they’d understand why she had to do it.

"I’ve been very patient with you." Han Shuying’s voice carried a faint edge of amusement.

Ru Yi almost sneered. "I wasn’t aware you were capable of patience."

Han Shuying’s arm tightened around her waist. "I allowed you to have your fun with the princesses. You even dared to kiss Yexue in front of me." Her grip turned bruising which made Ru Yi squirm.

Ru Yi nearly dropped the reins. She’d totally forgotten Han Shuying was watching. As always. "You’re hurting me."

Han Shuying did not ease her hand. "You seemed to enjoy it when they touched you. I’ve never seen you smile so hard the way you did after you kissed her. They confessed their love, didn’t they?"

Ru Yi did not deny it.

"I saw the pendant."

"You sound very jealous right now," Ru Yi kept her tone light.

Han Shuying leaned closer and spoke directly beside Ru Yi’s ear. "That’s because I am. Enjoy whatever affection you received from them while you still can."

Ru Yi’s heart started to race at the hint of the promised danger her words held. "What do you mean?"

Han Shuying’s voice remained calm. "I’m going to punish you for every single time you let the princesses touch you. I will wipe whatever remains of them off your body until you’re a crying writhing mess under me."

This should’ve scared Ru Yi. It should’ve made her run for the mountains and keep as much distance between her and Han Shuying as she could.

But instead— a hot pulsating need shot through her, pressing deep where Han Shuying still held her.

"What exactly are you planning to do to me?" Ru Yi asked, her voice coming out hot and bothered. It made Han Shuying’s face light up with a wicked smile.

"We’ll see, beloved."

The tension between them only intensified as they climbed. The mountains grew darker beneath the gathering clouds, and the wind grew colder against Ru Yi’s face.

She occasionally glanced backward, wondering how far behind the others were. Han Shuying was determined not to stop, they had to get to Ashen Fortress that same day.

Eventually, after riding the entire day, the path began to level out. And through the mist ahead, something enormous appeared.

Ru Yi’s eyes widened. "Is that it?"

Han Shuying slowed the horse. "Yes."

The iron gates of Ashen Fortress rose between two enormous sections of the mountain, their dark metal almost completely covered by years of rust. Ancient banners hung from the walls in torn strips, barely recognizable beneath layers of dirt and weathering.

Ru Yi’s heart pounded. "We made it."

The rest of the group joined them, each coming to a stop once they saw the gate. The princess watched in awe or disappointment, it was hard to tell which from the blank expression on their faces.

Everyone urged their horse forward.

The closer they came, the more wrong everything looked. The outer walls were cracked, several watchtowers already collapsed.

Even the stone road leading to the gates was buried beneath weed and loose rock. There were no soldiers waiting to welcome them.

And for the first time, the triplets wondered whether they had been traveling to Ashen Fortress only to discover that the last piece of their past had already been destroyed.