The attackers were vicious, but Xiao Yan’s men were all elite fighters.
After Di Tao "forcibly" dragged them onto his family’s ship, he watched as Xiao Yan’s group slaughtered several of the assailants. As the bodies piled up and the remaining enemies realized the situation was hopeless, they retreated with furious threats. The blood-soaked Di family guards rejoiced at their survival.
But before Di Tao could celebrate, a cold blade pressed against his throat.
"How dare you—"
Whoosh!
With a single slash, Xiao Yan nearly severed the throat of the guard who had shouted, slicing off half his ear. The man staggered back in terror.
Di Tao’s expression changed. "Brother He—"
"Ugh!"
A sharp pain erupted in his shoulder as Xiao Yan’s sword stabbed deep into his flesh. Cold sweat broke out on Di Tao’s forehead, and both Di Furen and Di Fangyun cried out in shock.
Di Fangyun pleaded desperately, "Brother He, my elder brother meant no harm! He had no choice but to rely on your strength! The Beiling are ruthless—they’ve been hunting us relentlessly. If they captured us, they would use us to blackmail Father and the Zhen’an Army!"
Xiao Yan’s voice was icy. "If you feared being taken by the Beiling, you could have chosen death. But instead, you dragged innocent people into your mess. Is this the upbringing of the Di family?"
"Two nights ago, I saved you three out of goodwill. Seeing that your guards were trained soldiers, I even broke my own rules to escort you out of Anxi. Yet instead of gratitude, you repay me by exposing me to Beiling spies. Do you truly think I won’t kill you?"
"Brother He!"
Seeing the murderous glint in Xiao Yan’s phoenix eyes, Di Tao’s heart lurched. He hurriedly explained, "Brother He, please calm down! Let me explain!"
Xiao Yan held his sword, unmoved.
Di Tao spoke urgently, "I know what I did was dishonorable. If I were alone, I would have fought the Beiling to the death rather than involve the innocent. But my mother and sister were with me. I couldn’t let them fall into enemy hands!"
"You saved us, escorted us out of Anxi. I would never have betrayed your kindness unless absolutely desperate. I take full responsibility. Punish me as you will, but I beg you for the sake of the Di family’s years guarding the border and protecting the Great Wei’s people, please ensure my mother and sister return safely to the northwest."
Di Tao was gambling.
He was betting that Xiao Yan, who had protected them after recognizing their military background, might show mercy for the Di family’s service.
Moreover, he sensed that beneath Xiao Yan’s cold exterior lay a man of principle. One who had shielded them despite the trouble, saved their lives multiple times, and even now had not killed him outright for his betrayal.
Di Fangyun, seeing her brother’s blood soaking his robes, wept. "Brother He, please spare my elder brother! We- we won’t trouble you further. We’ll return to the northwest on our own…"
Di Furen, too, was in tears, her face streaked with exhaustion and fear.
Xiao Yan studied them for a long moment before abruptly withdrawing his sword.
"My wife is softhearted. She often says the Zhen’an Army protects the nation, and she admires those who value loyalty. For her sake, I’ll let this go- but if there’s a next time, I will take your life."
Blood gushed from Di Tao’s shoulder as he collapsed to his knees, weak from pain—but relief flooded him.
He had gambled correctly.
Di Tao didn’t fully believe Xiao Yan’s claim about his wife’s kindness. To him, it was just an excuse, proof that this "He Yan" was harsh in speech but gentle at heart.
Clutching his wound, Di Tao bowed his head. "Thank you, Brother He."
Xiao Yan snorted coldly. With a flick of his wrist, the blood on his blade scattered like rain. He turned to his "injured" guards and issued quiet orders. Soon, their unharmed horses and the remaining intact carriage were brought forward.
Swinging onto his horse, he glanced back at the Di family, still frozen in place.
"Are you waiting for the Beiling spies to return?"
The Di family snapped out of their daze, faces lighting up with hope. Di Tao immediately shouted, "What are you standing around for? Follow Brother He!"
Too injured to ride, Di Tao joined his mother and sister in the carriage while Xiao Yan led the way on horseback. His men took the front, while the Di family’s few wounded guards trailed behind, forming a protective ring around the carriage.
Slumping against the carriage wall, Di Tao exhaled in relief, his face pale.
Di Furen applied medicine to his wound, her eyes red. "That He Yan is too heartless! You were already badly hurt, yet he still wounded you…"
"Mother."Di Tao cut her off. "I was in the wrong. Brother He showed mercy. If he truly wanted me dead, I wouldn’t be breathing now."
Seeing her still resentful, he softened his tone. "We are strangers to him. He had no obligation to protect us. Yet even after suspecting our identities, he still helped us escape Anxi. I betrayed his trust. This injury is my own fault."
Di Fangyun, her own eyes swollen from crying, nodded. "Elder Brother is right. Without Brother He, we’d be dead. Mother shouldn’t blame him."
Di Furen pressed her lips together. "I’m not blaming him. I’m just worried about your injury…"
"It’s not serious. Brother He’s medicine is excellent, I’ll recover in a few days." Di Tao managed a weak smile. "Besides, he may seem cold, but he’s kind. He left his men around our carriage, both to reassure us and to protect us."
Their group was battered and exhausted, easy prey for another attack. Yet without a word, Xiao Yan had arranged everything to keep them safe.
Di Tao was deeply grateful. And now, seeing Xiao Yan’s silent care despite his earlier betrayal, guilt gnawed at him even more.
"When we return to the northwest, we must repay Brother He properly. And Mother, please don’t speak ill of him again, we can’t afford to alienate him."
Di Furen sighed. "I understand."
They still needed Xiao Yan’s protection to reach the northwest. Offending him was out of the question.
As Di Furen tended to Di Tao’s wound, Di Fangyun leaned against the carriage window, quietly lifting the curtain to peer outside.
Her gaze landed on the tall, coldly elegant figure riding ahead, his posture straight as he held the reins.
She had never seen a man so striking—so formidable in battle, yet so composed.
But…
He was already married.
Her fingers tightened on the curtain, her heart aching inexplicably.
Why did Brother He have to be married?
Unaware of the girl’s thoughts, Xiao Yan rode forward calmly. Tu Bai, one of his men who had accompanied him from the capital, nudged his horse closer.
Suddenly sensing eyes on them, Xiao Yan turned just in time to see the carriage curtain drop, Di Fangyun’s face vanishing behind it.===============
You can read ahead to chapterr 470 (100+ extra chapters) here
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