Chapter 1358 - 1034: Settling Accounts

"Thud," the wooden mallet fell from his hand.

The room was engulfed in an indescribable, almost suffocating silence again. After a seemingly endless pause, Zuo Tian’s hoarse voice gravely said, "Zuo Heng has long been dead, buried underground with only that golden head accompanying him."

"..."

"You saw everything."

"..."

"Even if, even if he were still alive, he would be of no value, wouldn’t he?"

After saying these words, he shut his mouth tightly and bent down to pick up the wooden mallet on the ground. He originally thought Lu Xiao would have something more to say, but when he finished and sat upright, he only felt a gust of wind blowing from behind.

Zuo Tian slowly turned his head to see a green skirt flicker outside the door and then vanish.

Lu Xiao had already left the room.

As everyone retraced their path through the pine forest, heading down the mountain one after another, the wooden house behind them resounded once more with the sound of the wooden fish, yet it was lonelier, more desolate than before.

The path down the mountain was easier than the way up, but it was more taxing on their legs. After walking for most of the day, everyone’s legs were weary and about to give out. Finally, they reached the foot of the mountain just as the sun was about to set.

As soon as they entered the camp, those who had stayed behind promptly rose to greet them.

"Princess, you have finally returned!"

"Khan! Kedun!"

The scene was a bit chaotic for a moment. Originally descending together, the group automatically split into two lines and returned to their respective camps. Although they were still close by, none of them wished for any contact right then. Shang Ruyi, surrounded by people, returned to her camp, freshened up a bit, and the others brought in dinner.

Shang Ruyi didn’t say much, quietly eating two bowls of rice. Just as she handed the empty bowl to Wo Xue for a third serving, Wo Xue gently reminded her, "Princess, it would be best to eat a little less tonight, so you don’t overeat."

"..."

Only then did Shang Ruyi come back to her senses, smiling embarrassedly.

She had always had a good appetite, and having just been through life and death scaling Skytop Mountain, combined with the laborious up and down climb, tired and hungry as she was, she naturally couldn’t resist having a few more bites.

But indeed, she had eaten too much.

She had no choice but to put down her chopsticks. Wo Xue, also a bit sheepish, softly said, "If you’re hungry later, Princess, I can bring you a late-night snack."

Shang Ruyi chuckled, "At a time like this, who would eat a late-night snack?"

After speaking, she took a sip of tea herself and indeed felt a bit full. After sitting for a while, she got up and wandered outside, planning to take a walk around the camp to digest. Wo Xue wanted to follow her, but the dishes in the tent were still uncollected. Not trusting others to do it, she had to collect them herself, planning to catch up with Shang Ruyi afterward.

Thus, Shang Ruyi strolled alone around the camp by firelight.

Over at the Turkic camp, flames blazed high, a wind carrying the aroma of meat and grease blew towards her. Though she had just eaten two bowls of rice, Shang Ruyi suddenly felt a pang of hunger again and took a couple of steps in that direction.

As she approached, she saw a familiar figure coming towards her.

It was Lei Yu.

By this time, the sky was completely dark, and only by the campfires could they barely make out each other’s familiar outlines. Lei Yu wasn’t surprised to see her, but her face showed a hint of daze. Shang Ruyi walked up to her and smiled, "Haven’t rested, huh?"

Lei Yu shook her head.

Survivors of disaster, they should have felt close, once having shared a deep bond. Yet they felt even more distant than the previous night when face to face. Lei Yu found herself unable even to speak.

Shang Ruyi asked, "Have you had dinner yet?"

Lei Yu still shook her head.

Shang Ruyi couldn’t help but frown—she knew Ashina Zhuxie wouldn’t purposely let Lei Yu go hungry. Probably, they left in a hurry without bringing much Han food. When one is too exhausted, especially mentally, greasy food is hard to stomach. That must be why Lei Yu hadn’t eaten yet despite the late hour.

Shang Ruyi immediately said, "We have some porridge over there. Would you like to come over and have some?"

"..."

Lei Yu said nothing, just looked at her, eyes flickering as if wanting to speak.

But couldn’t open her mouth.

Yet Shang Ruyi stepped forward, her eyes glinting, even carrying a bit of warmth as she stared at her, "Come with me."

Lei Yu opened her mouth, perhaps genuinely exhausted, her lips were pale, making her once radiant appearance now seem even more forlorn.

She suddenly spoke, saying an abrupt sentence, "My son is still in Xiazhou."

"..."

"And my father is still in Luoyang."

"..."

Shang Ruyi’s breath hitched.

She wasn’t dull, naturally understanding that this was Lei Yu giving her an answer. A breeze carrying the scent of meat blew over. Despite the distant chatter and laughter, at this moment, it merely highlighted their shared sense of isolation and confusion. Shang Ruyi stood quietly for a moment, then nodded and softly said, "It’s okay, still come have a little with me."

After speaking, she reached out to take her hand.

But just as their hands were about to touch, a tall, familiar figure slowly approached. The burly shape blocked the firelight from behind, enshrouding the two, already in dim light, in a deeper shadow.

Especially Lei Yu.

Trapped between the two, she was almost devoid of any light.

Shang Ruyi looked up to meet those bright wolf eyes in the dark. Ashina Zhuxie’s gaze at her was icy and sharp—in truth, after they met again, he hadn’t been cordial, and now his sharpness was even more pronounced.

He said, "Where does Princess Qin intend to take my Kedun?"

Shang Ruyi looked at him, calmly, "Khan, rest assured, even if I wanted to steal your Kedun away, it wouldn’t be now. We won’t go far."

"..."

"Besides, I don’t plan to leave tonight; it’s too late, I can’t go far."

"..."

"I will only leave here tomorrow. If Khan wants to keep an eye on me, it can wait until then."

Ashina Zhuxie coldly regarded her, gently placing a hand on Lei Yu’s shoulder, pulling her behind him, and then stepping forward to confront Shang Ruyi, sneering, "Do you really think you can leave tomorrow?"

Shang Ruyi frowned, and Lei Yu quickly gathered her scattered thoughts, looking up at him, "What do you mean?"

Ashina Zhuxie coldly said, "Shang Ruyi, do you really think I wouldn’t settle accounts with you?"