Chapter 215: Chapter
The guard disappeared into the darkness of the military camp, his heavy boots crunching against the dirt. Minutes dragged by like hours. Su Long stood rooted to the spot, holding the silver-cornered ledger firmly against her chest, while An Li shifted anxiously beside her, her eyes darting back toward the distant, glowing lights of the settlement.
"What if he doesn’t believe us?" An Li whispered, her voice trembling slightly. "What if Bao Li’s men reach him first?"
"He will see us," Su Long replied softly, her face calm and set. "A military general inspecting a border region cannot ignore official seals."
A moment later, the guard returned, his face neutral. He looked at Su Long, then at An Li. "The General has agreed to hear your case. However, only the woman holding the ledger may enter the tent. The other must wait outside under guard."
An Li hesitated, looking worriedly at Su Long. "Su Long..."
"It’s fine. Wait for me here," Su Long said reassuringly. She patted An Li’s hand, took a deep breath, and stepped past the guards into the central command tent.
Inside, the grand canvas tent was lit by heavy iron lanterns, casting a warm, golden glow over maps and battle strategies laid out across a massive wooden table.
Expecting to see a stern, gray-haired veteran of many wars, Su Long took two steps inside and froze in shock.
Standing by the central map table was a man remarkably young scarcely older than Fu Sheng. He was striking, with sharply chiseled features, clear eyes, and an effortless, elegant grace that seemed completely at odds with the heavy iron armor he wore. He was far too young, and far too handsome, to be the formidable commander inspecting the Barren Lands.
Before Su Long could even bow or state her business, the young general turned. The moment his eyes fell on her, his stern military posture completely melted away.
"Su Long!" he gasped.
He didn’t wait for her to present the ledger. He crossed the heavy carpets in long, hasty strides, closing the distance between them in seconds. Reaching out, he gently took both of her hands in his, his grip warm and full of deep relief.
"You’re alright... Thank goodness, you’re safe," he breathed, searching her face with an intensity that left Su Long completely speechless.
Su Long stared at him, her mind racing. He knows me?
Confusion washed over her. She pulled back slightly, her eyes narrowing as she urgently called out to the interface in her mind.
’System! Who is this? Who is this man?’
A mechanical, faint chime echoed in her head as the System processed her query.
[System Notification: Host, retrieving character data from the original novel Chapters... Target identified as General Lin Yanzhe. He is one of the original female lead’s childhood sweethearts from the Imperial Capital.]
Su Long’s eyes widened slightly in realization. Lin Yanzhe.
Before she could process the System’s revelation, Lin Yanzhe gently took the heavy ledger from her hand and set it aside on a nearby table, completely unconcerned with Tiger Alley’s crimes for the moment. He guided her toward a cushioned seat by the tea table and gently urged her to sit down.
"Sit, please," Lin Yanzhe said, his voice dropping into a soft, affectionate tone as he sat down directly beside her. "I know you must be confused seeing me here in the Barren Lands. But I took this military assignment specifically for you."
Su Long looked at him, her guard still up. "General Lin..."
"Call me Yanzhe, like you used to," he interrupted softly, a sad smile touching his lips as he looked at her simple, worn clothes. "You’ve suffered so much in this terrible place, Su Long. But it’s over now. Your parents have finally found a way to clear the family’s standing and bring you back home to the Capital."
Su Long’s heart skipped a beat. "Bring me back?"
"Yes," Lin Yanzhe said eagerly, his eyes shining with hope as he took her hand once more. "Everything is prepared. The paperwork, the carriage, the imperial pardon.. it is all ready. Your parents are waiting for you."
He paused, his expression turning serious as he looked straight into her eyes.
"There is only one condition, Su Long," Lin Yanzhe said quietly. "You must divorce Fu Sheng. Cut all ties with the Fu family, leave this dusty wasteland behind, and come back home with me."
Su Long pulled her hands free and stood up so fast her chair scraped loudly against the wooden floorboards of the tent.
"No," she said, her voice ringing out cold and absolute in the quiet command post.
Lin Yanzhe blinked, caught completely off guard by her sudden rejection. He slowly rose from his seat, his brow furrowing in confusion. "Su Long? What do you mean, no? Did you not hear me? Your exile can end tonight. You don’t have to live in this harsh, lawless wasteland anymore."
"I heard you perfectly, General Lin," Su Long replied, stepping back to put a clear distance between them. Her face was an unreadable mask, her eyes sharp as flint. "But I will not divorce Fu Sheng."
Lin Yanzhe stared at her, genuinely bewildered. He took a step forward, reaching out a hand, but stopped when he saw the icy wall she had put up between them.
"Why?" he asked, his voice laced with growing frustration and concern. "Su Long, what are you doing? That marriage was just a simple arranged match an empty agreement arranged by the elders before everything fell apart! Fu Sheng is a disgraced, ruined man tied to an exile’s fate. He has nothing to offer you! I am offering you your real life back. Your family, your status, your home!"
[Host,] the System’s monotone voice chimed quietly in her head. [Reminding you that returning to the Imperial Capital with Lin Yanzhe could contribute to the original storyline’s primary objective for escaping the Barren Lands. Refusing this offer increases narrative complexity and difficulty.]
Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!
Use arrow keys (or A / D) to PREV/NEXT chapter