Finest Servant

Chapter 540

Chapter 540 Caught in a Snare

After deciding on the route of the march, Hu Bugui conveyed the orders down the ranks. The troops were already accustomed to General Lin's unconventional tactics. Whether returning to the Helan Mountain Gorge through a blockade of three hundred thousand Turks or advancing into the great plains while facing encirclement by nomadic tribes, the dangers were equivalent. Either way, it was a life-and-death situation. Instead of meaninglessly being annihilated by sixty thousand Turks, they'd rather plunge into the vast grasslands and fight a glorious battle.

Five thousand cavalry silently changed direction, opting for a route diametrically opposed to their original path. Moving from east to west, they traversed deep into the boundless grasslands under the cover of darkness.

Lin Wanrong looked back from his horse. Amidst the dark sky, there was only the vast emptiness. He could neither see where the grasslands met the desert nor catch a glimpse of the haunting Helan Mountain Gorge. With each step, he was getting farther from his homeland—Qingxuan, Qiaoqiao, Eldest Miss, Ning'er, Fairy Ning, Vixen An… He wasn't sure if he would ever live to see them again. A sense of melancholy surged within him, and his eyes grew moist.

Gao Qiu rode alongside him, sensing his emotional state. "Don't worry, Brother Lin," he comforted. "We will return. Even if it costs me my life, I will ensure your safety."

Lin Wanrong simply nodded, not uttering a word. His eyes caught sight of the lavish carriage in the middle of the formation. After a long silence, he finally spoke, "Brother Gao, keep a close eye on this Yueya’er. She is not someone to be underestimated. I have a strange premonition that our journey is intricately tied to her."

Gao Qiu chuckled. "Even if she's extraordinary, she's still a woman. With your knack for dealing with women, she'll probably be begging for your favor soon. What's there to fear about her?"

Lin Wanrong shook his head, amused. "Brother Gao, you're mistaken. The thoughts of this Turkic woman are far from simple. Do you remember the situation when treating Little Li on the carriage?"

Gao Qiu couldn't forget; Lin Wanrong's exceptional skills were awe-inspiring. "I remember," Gao Qiu smirked lasciviously. "That Turkic girl couldn't handle your teasing and nearly fled. You really know your stuff."

Lin Wanrong sighed, shaking his head. "You're wrong again, Brother Gao. What if I told you, it wasn't me teasing her, but her teasing me? Would you believe it?"

"Teasing you?" Gao Qiu was flabbergasted. "Is there even a woman in this world audacious enough to tease Brother Lin? Just how formidable would she have to be?"

Lin Wanrong nodded, his face deadly serious. "Think about it, Brother Gao. During our banter in the carriage, Yueya’er seemed outwardly enraged, but her eyes were clear, her composure intact. Despite the emotional turbulence, she managed to calmly treat Little Li's injuries without a single mistake. What kind of mental strength does that require? Not to speak of women, but even among men, how many could remain so composed? The irony is that we didn't even realize it. We thought we were amusing ourselves, but psychologically, we were the ones being toyed with by Yueya’er!"

After hearing the analysis, Gao Qiu was enlightened. "Had you not pointed it out, Brother Lin, I would never have realized it. This young woman is indeed excessively reserved. Ah, I see now. Your teasing on the carriage was all intentional, a way to test her, wasn't it? I must admire your superior acting skills; you even fooled me."

"It's of no consequence," Lin Wanrong waved a dismissive hand and sighed. "People only see my uninhibited exterior; how could they understand my passionate and sincere heart? Such 'learned libertinism' is mistaken for debauchery. Alas, I've grown accustomed to the misunderstandings."

Gao Qiu nodded sympathetically. "A learned libertine, indeed. Brother Lin, you are not one to be taken lightly. You courted public scorn by teasing Yueya’er, suffered endless injustice, and yet, you still remain so composed. I truly admire you."

Upon Lin Wanrong's orders, Hu Bugui stationed scouts at a significant distance. From the moment they changed course, the isolated force of 5,000 soldiers was destined to engage in a game of cat and mouse with the nomads. The vast Alxa Plain presented an uncharted journey for everyone; no one knew what awaited them ahead.

They traveled further into the depths of the plains for over two hours before setting up camp. With both visible and hidden scouts stationed, it was already midnight. Hu Bugui pointed at the map and said, "Those twenty thousand elite Turkic soldiers are now about a hundred miles to our northeast. Considering their pace, they should reach Bayanhot by tomorrow morning. My guess is that some will remain there to reinforce the city, while the rest will continue to pursue us, aiming to surround us."

"Correct, the nomads are not slow," Lin Wanrong nodded. "That means, by tomorrow morning, the lame and blind men we released will 'accurately' inform the Turks of our whereabouts."

Hu Bugui laughed heartily, "Only now do I fully understand, General, that your decision to release Yueya’er's tribespeople carries such deep implications. This will only fortify the Turk's determination to encircle us from both sides. The young girl could never have dreamed that her people would end up aiding us."

"Not necessarily," Lin Wanrong solemnly shook his head. "Given Yueya’er's cunning, she would have thought of this. It is only because we separated her from her tribe that she's powerless to act."

Having already learned of Yueya’er's cleverness from Gao Qiu, Hu Bugui grunted, "General, in my opinion, regardless of Yueya’er's identity, she's undoubtedly a thorny issue. To eliminate future troubles, why not—” His voice halted, and he drew his finger across his neck in a slashing motion.

A look of regret washed over Gao Qiu's face. "Old Hu, such a beautiful young woman, the likes of which appear once in centuries among the Turks. What a waste it would be to kill her. Why not let me administer some bewitching medicine instead, so that she remembers only Brother Lin for the rest of her life? Wouldn't everyone be happy then?"

Hu Bugui looked alarmed. "Brother Gao, is there truly such a medicine? That would be excellent."

Gao Qiu nodded solemnly, "Indeed. Once we finish dealing with the Turks this time, I'll devote myself to researching and creating that medicine. You'll just have to be patient, Old Hu."

‘Talking to this guy is pointless,’ thought Hu Bugui, who snorted dismissively and ignored him.

Lin Wanrong sighed and said with a bitter smile, "Brother Hu, with your way of thinking, I'm afraid Little Li will never wake up."

Hu Bugui, a clever man himself, was instantly alarmed. "General, are you suggesting that Yueya’er might have done something to prevent Little Li from waking up?"

Gao Qiu also grasped the crux of the matter, his face darkening. If that were true, it would be horrifying indeed.

Lin Wanrong spoke slowly, "A beautiful Turkic woman like Yueya’er, with her intelligence and wit, is sure to have some means of self-preservation. We can't be certain she hasn't done anything to Little Li, but what I can say for sure is that she absolutely has the ability and means to make Li Wuling never wake up."

This final statement struck Gao Qiu and Hu Bugui like a sledgehammer to the heart. Lin Wanrong was absolutely right; inviting this Turkic woman to treat Li Wuling was an endeavor fraught with both opportunity and danger. They could threaten Yueya’er with her tribespeople, but couldn't she use Li Wuling to threaten them in return? Could they really jeopardize Little Li's safety and kill all of Yueya'er’s tribespeople? It was easier said than done. Their relationship with Yueya’er was one of mutual benefit, constraint, and counter-restraint, a matter of who could outmaneuver the other.

Hu Bugui and Gao Qiu felt their heads spinning. On the surface, they appeared to be in control of Yueya’er, but secretly, wasn't she pulling their strings as well? What was the story behind this Yueya’er? How was it that every young woman they encountered on the plains was so formidable? Was there even room for them to live between this contest of courage and intelligence?

"Brother Lin, I feel like we've fallen into a trap," said Gao Qiu after a moment of confusion, and Old Hu nodded in agreement, seeming to see the problem as well.

Seeing the discouragement on their faces, Lin Wanrong chuckled, "What kind of trap could it be? At most, it's just a femme fatale. Don't forget, no matter how formidable Yueya’er is, she's still a woman, and we hold her in the palm of our hand. I humbly say, there's not a single two-legged female creature on this earth I can't handle."

‘That's humility?’ Both Old Hu and Gao Qiu exchanged glances. ‘So, you think you can handle female monkeys and gorillas too? More like they would handle you.’

Though Gao Qiu usually sang praises for Brother Lin, even he felt a little doubtful at this moment. "Brother Lin, are you really that confident? Don't forget, your wives are all daughters of Great Hua, fond of love poems and the like. You've won them over with your dashing good looks and irresistible charm. But these Turkic women are completely different; they're like wild horses on the plains, worshiping strength and heroes, preferring men with rugged faces and beards. You don't have any of these qualities. If you really want to tame this wild horse—forget love, better use drugs."

"Exactly, we should use some kind of drug—" Hu Bugui blurted out, only to immediately shake his head, "No, no, that won't work. Yueya’er herself is a physician; she knows medications better than anyone else. It's too risky. I think we should simply use force. She won't be able to resist, and after a few days of crying, she'll get over it. Women are like that. Sentiments are secondary; force is the key!"

As they delved into their immoral plans, the two men became enthusiastic, a complete shift from their prior despondency. Lin Wanrong couldn't help but shake his head in disbelief. ‘Why don't you show this kind of enthusiasm when studying military tactics?’ However, a previous comment from Old Gao about "falling into the trap" triggered some vague resemblance in his mind, but when he tried to think more deeply, he was lost.

Hu Bugui and his companion talked and conspired well into the night. They devised countless ideas but failed to find a practical way to subdue Yueya. Only then did they realize the greatness of General Lin. It's true what they say, "One minute on stage requires ten years of work off stage." They pondered how Lin Wanrong effortlessly won the hearts of many young ladies; behind this glamour were indeed years of hard work and dedication. Truly admirable!

Lin Wanrong had no patience for their depravity. He walked away, heading directly towards the tent where Li Wuling was stationed.

Li Wuling's safety was of the utmost importance. His tent was located at the center of the military camp, close to Lin Wanrong's own quarters. Around a dozen guards were posted near the entrance, maintaining strict vigilance.

"General!" Seeing him approach, the guards perked up and saluted.

"Thank you for your hard work," Lin Wanrong nodded. As he lifted the tent flap, he noticed a fleeting white shadow and felt a soft breeze brush against him, as if a swift bird had flown past him.

"Who's there?!" Startled, Lin Wanrong swiftly unsheathed his blade and slashed forward. His actions were refined through years of battle—swift, precise, and ruthless. Even the Turkic warriors couldn't match his speed.

As his sword cut through the air with a whooshing sound, it met no resistance, missing its intended target. The tent was empty; not a fly, let alone a person, was in sight.

"General, what happened?" Hearing the shout, the guards rushed in to see Lin Wanrong gripping his sword, his face filled with disbelief and astonishment.

Lin Wanrong took a deep breath and asked in a solemn tone, "You were guarding the perimeter. Did you see anyone rushing out?"

The guards quickly shook their heads. "No, since setting up camp tonight, aside from you, General Hu, and General Gao earlier, no one has approached this tent."

Lin Wanrong scanned the interior. Li Wuling lay quietly on a makeshift bed, his face as pale as paper. Although his breathing was slow, nothing seemed amiss. The gauze wrapped around him was shocking to see—Lin Wanrong recognized it, having dressed Li Wuling's wounds himself earlier that day.

A bowl of medicinal soup was also present, and the air in the tent was thick with the scent of herbs. Other than that, nothing unusual caught his eye.

‘Could it be that my eyes were playing tricks on me?’ Lin Wanrong was filled with doubt as he slowly sheathed his knife and walked briskly to where the young lad, Li Wuling, lay.

Li Wuling's eyes were tightly shut, his sleeping face peaceful. His slightly youthful cheeks and lips were dry and cracked, likely from dehydration. Lin Wanrong touched his forehead; it was still warm but seemed to be cooling.

Nothing seemed out of place. Could it be that fatigue from the march had made him hallucinate? Lin Wanrong rubbed his eyes involuntarily. Several of his guards watched as the general aimlessly sniffed around, his eyes darting back and forth—they couldn't make heads or tails of what he was doing.

After scrutinizing the area thoroughly and finding no signs of abnormality, Lin Wanrong looked up and chuckled. "No harm done, gentlemen. I was merely checking on your vigilance. Seeing you all so dutiful and fearless brings me great comfort."

Exiting Li Wuling's tent, he cautiously scanned the area. It was utterly silent except for the occasional neighs of warhorses. For safety, the remaining Turkic men had been divided into small groups and were being kept under watch. One particularly robust Turkic man named Heliye was heavily bound and watched over by Hu Bugui's personal troops. Only Yueya'er, a solitary girl, had her own tent not far from Lin Wanrong, surrounded by several guards, presumably to prevent any mischief on her part.

Having eliminated all foreseeable risks and unable to find any cause for his unease, he decided it was a waste of energy to ponder any further. Whether it was good luck or bad, if something was meant to happen, it would. It was best to just go home and sleep.

Just as he took a step, the distant notes of a flute echoed softly through the air. The melody was tranquil, as if it had descended from heaven, tinged with a touch of sorrow. It felt like droplets of spring rain gently falling on loquat trees.

Walking a few steps further, he saw a figure sitting alone on the distant grass, her back turned towards him. Her golden, silky hair flowed down naturally like a cascading waterfall as she set aside her small felt hat. Her attire, a long dress with golden edges, was casually spread on the grass. Bathed in the bright moonlight, her exquisite form resembled a golden flower blooming in the meadow.

A jade flute rested against her lips, the crisp notes dancing from its bamboo body. Sometimes the melody was lively, at other times slow, as though she was caressing her own face with the desert winds.

‘Trying to seduce me? Not a chance!’ Staring at the elegant figure, Lin Wanrong swallowed hard.

"Young hearts are as fickle as clouds; who will accompany me in this everlasting night—Ah! Isn't this Miss Yueya'er? Can't sleep either?" he chuckled, taking heavy steps that rustled the grass beneath his feet.

The Turkic girl slowly turned around. In the dim moonlight, her eyes were deep pools, yet they also contained an untamable wildness. Two clear trails of tears were visible on her flawless, moon-like face.

Wow. Lin Wanrong's mood involuntarily tightened. Who said the Turks had no beauties? This Yueya'er really had a different kind of charm.

"What are you doing here?" The Turkic girl glanced at him, her voice full of disdain.

"Ah, you've got it wrong. I should be the one asking you that question," Lin Wanrong laughed. "The moonlight is so bright tonight that it kept me awake. Just so happens, my inner beast stirred, compelling me to compose some verses—Ah, the desert's brilliance bathes the field, as a damsel plays her jade flute with zeal. When spring arrives, flowers mirror lakes, as moonlight and snow make the desert quake—Ah, splendid poetry. Were you perhaps lured by my verses? In the terms of our Great Hua, that would be a fortuitous sign, like heaven-sent monkey feces."

"What fate are you talking about?" Yujia sneered coldly. "Your Great Hua and my Turks are sworn enemies. You've captured my people, forcing me to heal yours. Such despicable tactics truly befit the reputation of your Great Hua."

Lin Wanrong waved his hand dismissively as he moved closer and sat down beside her. "Whether it's despicable or not isn't for you to decide, Yujia. Besides, didn't you also leave a secret mark on my brother?"

Yujia's expression remained unchanged, but she shifted away from him. She let out a disdainful humph, yet her eyes revealed a glimmer of icy detachment.

Lin Wanrong squinted his eyes and offered a faint smile. "You don't need to admit it; everyone has their own moral compass. Just like how you appeared before me, we don't need to discuss the process, only the outcome matters."

Yujia toyed with the jade flute in her hand and responded dismissively, "Don't think you're so clever. A pack of wolves on the plains will never outwit a cunning hunter."

"Is that a Turkic proverb?" Lin Wanrong nodded, "Interesting. As for wolves, we in Great Hua have a famous saying too—'Seven wolves in a night,' meaning our men can become a ferocious wolf seven times in a single night. Do your plains have such skilled hunters for such a wolf?"

"Shameless—" Yujia scolded, her ears turning a shade of pink, evidently having heard this 'famous' saying before. Lin Wanrong let out a few hearty laughs before his expression turned cold, "Let's get to the point, Miss Yujia. I can ignore your background, I can free your tribespeople, but I want you to stop playing games with my brother. I wish for him to wake up and be with us as soon as possible."

This was him laying his cards on the table. Facing a clever Turkic girl like Yujia, he felt it better to go on the offensive and see her hand.

Yujia snorted and stared at him coldly, "Please don't think everyone is as despicable as you. The breadth of the Turks' hearts is something you couldn't possibly fathom."

"Yes, yes, indeed very broad," Lin Wanrong said, ogling her "broad" chest with drooling anticipation, his eyes gleaming green.

Yujia's face turned icy, and her pale blue eyes emitted waves of coldness. "The reason you freed my tribespeople earlier is something you understand better than I do. Who's really playing games here, you people from Great Hua know very well. I just can't imagine how someone as cunning, despicable, and shameless as you could become an official in Great Hua."

The young Turkic woman's contempt for him was evident, stemming not just from her innate prejudice against Great Hua, but also from his own disgraceful behavior.

‘I’ll just consider it a compliment,’ Lin Wanrong chuckled. "Ah, Yueya’er, it seems you haven't fully grasped the grandeur of our Great Hua culture. But that's alright; your ability to speak our language fluently is already quite an accomplishment. By the way, considering how proficient you are in medicine and our language, did you study in Great Hua? If so, where did you polish your skills? Do you know Xu Wei, Mei Yanqiu, or Gu Shunzhang?" His excitement was palpable as he rattled off several names.

Yueya’er clearly understood his line of questioning but chose to remain silent, offering neither a nod nor a shake of her head.

Seeing that his questions were getting him nowhere and the girl was a tough nut to crack, Lin Wanrong felt a rising sense of irritation. He smirked, "Ah, I get it now. You must have a Great Hua lover and you've been diligently learning our language and medicine to elope with him. Very interesting, indeed!"

Listening to his nonsense, Yueya’er could no longer contain her anger. "Elope with a man from Great Hua? What we, the daughters of the grasslands, yearn for are invincible warriors. Great Hua men are timid and weak, like cotton on the plains—crushable beneath one's foot and utterly spineless!"

Lin Wanrong, visibly indignant, retorted, "That's quite an overgeneralization, Miss Yueya’er. How can you judge an entire forest by one withered tree? Take me, for instance—am I weak? Do I lack spine?"

"You?" The young woman from the Turkic tribes snorted. "You might have a semblance of spine, but it seems to be solely used for unscrupulous matters."

The critique was sharp to the bone, yet Lin Wanrong burst into hearty laughter. "You have quite the keen eye, Miss Yueya’er; you see right through to a person's core. If it weren't for the fact that we've just met, I'd think you had known me before. By the way, have you ever heard my name prior to this?"

"San Ge Shi—Wo Lao Gong," Yueya’er disdainfully replied. "Why would I care about such an ugly name?"

Holding back a laugh, Lin Wanrong responded, "Names grow on you over time. So, you haven't heard of me. What a pity. Given your deep insights into my character, I assumed you must have studied me intensively."

His comment seemed both intentional and unintentional, leaving Yueya’er momentarily stunned. Her pale blue eyes deepened like tranquil waters.

Lin Wanrong, locking eyes with her, continued, "Actually, I have an acquaintance in the Turkic lands, though not exactly a friend. His name is Lu Dongzan; he's quite intelligent. But you, Miss Yueya’er, are even smarter. Do you know Lu Dongzan?"

Yueya’er's expression remained unchanged as she slowly replied, "Lu Dongzan, the famed National Tutor of the steppes? Every Turkic citizen knows of him. How could I not?"

"I see you do know him," Lin Wanrong said with a meaningful smile. "Well, if you ever have the time, please pass along a message to him. Tell him I welcome him back to Great Hua as a guest and promise not to swindle him out of his Nose-piercing Grass this time. What was the place called where those herbs are abundant? Altai Mountains, Khovd—wonderful places, indeed!"

He stared intently at Yueya'er, his face twisted into a wolfish grin, exuding a sense of triumph.

Yujia’er's small hand trembled slightly, and a chill surged through her. She broke into a sudden smile and shook her head. "How clever you think you are, oh man of Great Hua. So you've taken me to be sent by Lu Dongzan?"

Unexpectedly, she was the first to expose his thoughts. Lin Wanrong chuckled coldly, "Aren't you?"

Yueya'er burst into a series of laughter, sharp enough to shatter the night's tranquility, carrying far and wide, attracting the gazes of countless soldiers.

Old Gao and Old Hu peered out from their tent, stealing glances in their direction. Spotting Lin Wanrong standing beside Yueya'er, their eyes lit up. They gave Lin Wanrong an enthusiastic thumbs-up, grinning in a sleazy and ambiguous manner. God knows what they were thinking.

‘Damn it, I haven't done anything wrong! Why the presumption?’ Seeing the self-satisfied look on the Turkic girl's face, Lin Wanrong couldn't help but say, "What are you laughing at? Disrupting people's sleep and causing undue speculation is a serious matter, you know?"

Yujia halted her laughter, looking at him squarely. "Oh, clever man of Great Hua, don't presume to understand others through your narrow mindset. I swear on the god of the plains, I was not sent by Lu Dongzan."

The god of the plains held an incomparable position in the hearts of the Turkic people. Could it be that Yujia really wasn't sent by Lu Dongzan? Lin Wanrong found himself flustered by her words. Despite his extensive experience with women, he felt utterly helpless in front of this Turki girl, as though hacking at cotton with a great sword—effort wasted.

A strong sense of danger overcame him. Lin Wanrong abruptly stood up, his voice filled with anger. "Miss Divine Healer, revive my brother Little Li, and I'll let you and your tribe go—now, immediately!"

Yujia also rose to her full height, meeting his gaze fearlessly. "Wake your brother up now? I'm sorry. With my medical skills, I can't accomplish that. Of course, you can still choose to release me and my tribe. If so, I'd be eternally grateful."

She bent down gracefully to brush off the dust and debris from her long skirt. Her figure was captivatingly alluring.

‘What in the world is going on? She's sticking around and I can't even drive her away?’ Watching Yujia's retreating figure, Lin Wanrong clenched his fists, rage filling him.

“I feel like we've walked into a trap,” Old Gao's words kept ringing in his ears. Lin Wanrong's face turned pale, and he remained speechless for a long time.

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