TCN: Mei Gongqing

Chapter 180: He's Here

From the hillside, Murong Ke watched her figure going farther and farther. He raised his thin lips to say: "She's indeed important to Wang Hong."

That black-robed man was so capable that he must have been a very important person around Wang Hong. Yet he was willing to give up his life for a woman who wasn't even his mistress.

"Your Highness, let's retreat," a Hu asked after stepping closer to Murong Ke. "She's just a woman, we gain nothing even if we kill her. Your Highness, we still have time to retreat."

He stared at the billowing smoke in front of him — one that could only be formed by thousands of troops. Apprehension filled his eyes.

Not only him, but the other captains also seemed uneasy.

Murong Ke was still staring ahead.

After a while, he coldly said, "The people in front of us aren't Shi Xuan's, but Wang Hong's."

While his captains were still perplexed, Murong Ke slowly said, "Wang Hong's men won't exceed 2000."

"However, there must be ten thousand Jins by the looks of things."

"So I want to have a clear understanding of the situation." Murong Ke stared at the smoke and grimly said, "We can't retreat without even seeing Wang Hong's face. This is something I, Murong Ke, cannot accept."

The captains looked at each other and had nothing more to say.

This translation belongs to hamster428.

Chen Rong kept on running.

Her legs felt soft, and her body was heavy.

Not far, not far to go.

She knew she had to get there, she must. Otherwise, the black-robed man would've died in vain. Otherwise, Wang Hong would've wasted all this capital and manpower.

Fortunately, the topography was flat. Even though her long skirt was unconducive to fleeing, the Hu behind her were good riders, not runners. And as Chen Rong ran as fast as she could, she was able to maintain the 80-step distance between them.

At this range, a skilled archer could absolutely shoot her down with an arrow. Fortunately for her, no such person existed among the group of Hu chasers.

The sun was burning brilliantly.

A group of riders emerged from the surging smoke and gradually separated from the cavalcade, dashing straight for Chen Rong.

The one leading the way was dressed in a white attire.

The scenery was suddenly so clear and visible. As she ran, Chen Rong raised her head to take a good look.

"So dirty."

Her murmur was filled with joy, emotions, and tears.

Suddenly she was filled with strength.

She opened her arms and flew like an arrow.

The distance between her and the Hu extended to 90 steps.

Looking at the red-robed woman who seemed to be propelled by the gods, her speed suddenly increasing, the Hu glanced at each other and unknowingly slowed down.

When Chen Rong sprinted away, the rider also kicked his horse's belly and galloped to her.

Closer and closer.

In the bright sunlight, she could see that his white clothes had been stained black and sooty. His face, one that was always spotless, was also sweaty and grimy.

He looked like a spotted cat.

Chen Rong's eyes lit up at the sight of him. She wasn't aware that the Hu had stopped chasing behind her. All she knew was that she needed to run to him.

His mount was evidently an excellent horse. It carried him to her in no time. When the dust from its hooves strewed over a bewildered Chen Rong, he hurriedly brought it to a stop.

He did not dismount, but lowered his head to study her, then frowned and softly sighed, "So ugly." His voice was very gentle, like a murmur — faint and smiling.

Chen Rong was grinning stupidly. Upon hearing his words, she glared at him before her eyes turned red.

The man offered his hand.

Onto which Chen Rong placed hers.

He pulled her onto horseback.

As soon as his warm and familiar scent entered her nose, Chen Rong's throat constricted with emotions. She grabbed his front lapels to wipe her sweaty face and whispered, "You shouldn't have come."

"You shouldn't have come," she choked.

His hands passed her wound like the touch of spring's breeze and at last wrapped around her waist.

He did not answer her but looked up ahead and muttered, "You want to see me? Then let's meet."

"Keep moving," he ordered.

"Aye," his knights replied, having arrived behind them from a time unknown to Chen Rong.

She looked up and widened her eyes. More than a thousand riders appeared in her view, each dragging a tree branch behind his horse.

So it turned out they were dragging branches.

No wonder the smoke in the distance surged straight to the sky.

A rider rode up to Wang Hong and stared in Murong Ke's direction. "Aye that's right," he grinned, "it's time to let that face-hiding punk meet real Jin warriors."

Having said this, he turned to look at Wang Hong. "My lord, would you like to see him after a clean face and change of clothes?"

Wang Hong was patting Chen Rong who was still in tears when he agreed, "Alright."

As soon as he said yes, several riders had turned and dismounted. They took out a water bag, a towel, and an outer robe and soon surrounded Wang Hong.

Chen Rong watched in wonder as Wang Hong brightened from a spotted cat back to a ladies' man. She quietly used her sleeve to scrub her face.

At this time, a water bag and towel were brought to her.

She promptly took the water bag to wash her face.

Next, a slender hand handed her a white robe.

Chen Rong looked up and came face to face with Wang Hong's clear and gentle eyes. She reached for the robe but, for whatever reason unknown to her, did so with shaky hands.

She bit down her teeth and threw the robe on.

"Come up," Wang Hong offered.

She raised her head, took his hand and leapt onto his horse.

The riders dashed forward and, in the blink of an eye, those standing on the hillside came into Chen Rong's sight.

She lowered her head to see Murong Ke standing on the hillside with his bronze mask. She did not want to see him like this.

Staring at Wang Hong, Murong Ke slowly moved his thin lips to say: "Wang Qilang, you really spare no means for the woman sitting in front of you."

Having said this, he threw his head back in laughter, his eyes glancing to the black-robed corpse on his left.

Seeing that Wang Hong's men did not make a move, Murong Ke raised his clasped hands at Wang Hong and said in admiration: "You disclosed the itinerary of the mayor of Mo'yang and sacrificed the life of your clan's best guard for the sake of the woman you love... Aren't you a romantic, Wang Qilang."