Chapter Seventy-Two: The Brilliance of Summer Blossoms

“Master, look!” Bai Liangqi shouted loudly to Lu Liao.

From afar, only a blurred figure could be seen. Yet Lu Liao recognized instantly that the figure waving a silk scarf was none other than Emil. Rudely, he snatched Pei Wuniang from her horse and placed her on the ground, then mounted the horse and rode off after that silhouette.

“You promised, even with wounds all over your body, you would always protect me. You promised, in the depths of night, I would no longer be lonely. You promised…” Emil sobbed uncontrollably in Lu Liao’s arms.

It was like retrieving the most beloved thing lost; Lu Liao held Emil tightly, so moved he could not speak.

Carefully placing Emil on the horseback, Lu Liao mounted as well, holding her as they sped toward the largest tent like the wind. Taking Emil’s hand, they entered the tent and knelt straight in front of Kang Rizhi.

“Lu Liao wishes to marry Emil as his wife. I ask Lord Kang to grant his blessing.”

“Emil’s situation, you must be well aware. How dare you make such an outrageous request!” Kang Rizhi slammed the table heavily, completely unprepared for Emil, whom he had confined in the tent, to escape, or for Lu Liao to return.

“Yes, I am fully aware. So, no matter what Emil faces, I will face it with her.” Lu Liao regarded the furious Kang Rizhi with unwavering resolve.

“Young man, courage alone cannot solve everything.” Kang Rizhi shook his head, unmoved.

With a thud, Emil also knelt, drew a short dagger, and cut her palm. Blood dripped ceaselessly. Her eyes signaled Lu Liao to do the same; their bloodied palms clasped tightly together.

“Father! Emil is willing to be his wife, even if only for a day or an hour, and will never regret it until death.”

Seeing his daughter, who had never pleaded with him, so resolute and determined, Kang Rizhi felt a painful ache in his chest. His eyes grew moist, and he pointed at his son, Kang Zhimou, who had knelt beside his daughter.

“You released your sister secretly. The rest is up to you!” Kang Rizhi waved his sleeve angrily, but in truth, he relented.

There was no lavish feast, no joyful dance or music. After a few simple blessings from close friends and family, Kang Zhimou’s tent became the temporary bridal chamber for Lu Liao and Emil. Emil, dressed in splendid tribal attire, gazed dreamily at Lu Liao, dazzlingly beautiful beneath the flickering red candles.

Cradling her blushing face, Lu Liao felt more fulfilled than ever before. “Emil, I will hunt a wolf king of the grasslands, craft its fangs into a pendant, and hang it around your neck.”

Emil gently embraced Lu Liao’s back, her large, beautiful eyes fixed on him.

“The tribe’s jewel, carefree Emil, died four years ago. You brought her back to life, and together we’ve walked a journey she’ll never forget—a beautiful dream. My only regret and fear in that dream was not being your true wife. This wedding may be humble and simple, but it is the best gift you’ve given me. Now, as your true wife, you can’t imagine how happy I am.”

Emil’s tears welled again, but this time they were tears of happiness and contentment.

Lu Liao kissed away the tears at the corner of Emil’s eyes, his lips softly tracing hers. It was as if a sacred ritual was unfolding, as he slowly removed her garments, revealing a snow-white, perfect body.

Their bodies intertwined again and again, cries and whispers rising, again and again reaching the summit of spirit and desire.

A red sun slowly rose from the horizon, the grasslands echoed with melodious pastoral songs. Emil, now an ordinary tribal wife, helped Lu Liao dress and wash his face, her face radiant with a blissful smile throughout.

Stepping out of the tent, she took a deep breath of the fresh, moist air. Turning, she saw her brother-in-law Kang Zhimou’s gloomy face, staring at her resentfully.

Lu Liao, bewildered, bowed deeply to Kang Zhimou, expressing sincere thanks once more.

“If you neglect Emil’s body and indulge recklessly again, and if anything happens to the child in her womb, I will never forgive you,” Kang Zhimou said sternly.

“What? Emil is already carrying my child!” Lu Liao’s mouth dropped open in astonishment, unable to believe it.

“If she wasn’t two months pregnant, do you think I’d have let her out and allowed you two to be together?” Kang Zhimou replied angrily.

Overjoyed, Lu Liao rushed back into the tent, embracing Emil as she tidied up. Kneeling down, he pressed his face gently to her belly, smiling as he asked, “You’re carrying our son—why didn’t you tell me?”

Emil softly wrapped her hands around Lu Liao’s head, her eyes brimming with tenderness, her smile blooming like a flower.

“When I first realized, all I felt was fear and anxiety. Afraid I’d drag him down, afraid that opening my eyes, you’d no longer be by my side. Now, I’m not afraid. Because I know that once this child is born, his father will be there for him.”

For two days straight, Lu Liao grinned like a fool, never leaving Emil’s side. Emil finally had enough and, with a spring in her step, joined the noisy crowd of young people outside.

What he saw nearly made Lu Liao’s jaw drop. He never imagined Pei Wuniang, a young woman, would be wrestling with the young men of the Kang clan.

The crowd burst into laughter as another Kang youth was thrown to the ground by Pei Wuniang’s back throw. Pei Wuniang’s lips curled disdainfully as she glanced at the defeated youth. She then turned to the leader, Kang Zhimou, and beckoned him with a contemptuous gesture.

Kang Zhimou, arms crossed, watched the match coldly. Unable to bear Pei Wuniang’s provocative gesture, he stretched his arms and strode into the ring with pride.

Though Kang Zhimou looked handsome and gentle, exuding an innocent air, the moment he entered the field, a formidable aura radiated from him. Pei Wuniang dared not underestimate him, testing cautiously.

Yet he was incredibly agile, easily evading Pei Wuniang’s hidden attacks. With a deft move, he sent her sliding to the ground.

Pei Wuniang quickly rolled to her feet and lunged again, grappling several times before preparing her signature over-the-shoulder throw. Kang Zhimou exhaled sharply, and Pei Wuniang was tossed high into the air.

Lu Liao walked over and squatted beside Pei Wuniang, who hadn’t managed to get up. Adopting an elder’s tone and rubbing his jaw as if in pain, he said, “Pei, you’re always so wild—how will you ever find a husband?”

“What, you just married and now look down on your junior? Don’t worry, my husband will be a peerless hero—a great general. Stop worrying about me. Come, help me up, I want to compete with him in archery.”

Pei Wuniang rubbed her backside, impatiently waved Lu Liao away, and glared defiantly at Kang Zhimou.

Lu Liao sighed and strolled off with his hands behind his back. Not far away, Kang Zhimou’s daughter, the adorable five-year-old Kang Tisi, was holding the hand of Lu Liao’s unruly disciple, Bai Liangqi, chattering away.

Finding a high patch of grass, Lu Liao lay back on the soft meadow. The gentle breeze caressed him, and the wildflowers bloomed brilliantly among the grass.

Life on the grassland could never remain peaceful. The herdsmen’s enemies were not only fierce wolves—the greatest threats came from rivals competing for pastures. Xian, Khitan, and Turkic peoples could appear at any time; every male over fourteen in the clan practiced riding and archery without cease.

“With your body and heart, feel the horse’s sprint and the wind’s flow. The long blade in your hand is like a pair of wings. Don’t force it—let the horse’s charge and the wind’s movement guide it, so it cleaves everything in its path with ease.”

Ever since his first attempt at swinging his sword on a galloping horse, almost breaking his hand, Lu Liao had always remembered Kang Zhimou’s teachings.

Seeing the stout wooden post split cleanly in two with a gentle sweep from Qiu Shui, Lu Liao smiled with pride. He walked to the stream to wash the sweat from his face, gazing at his bearded reflection in the water—nothing like the frail scholar he once was.

He chuckled at himself and saw, on the distant grassland, Bai Liangqi and Kang Tisi standing solemnly face to face. Lu Liao crept over and hid in the grass, curious about what these two children were up to.

Bai Liangqi took off the wolf fang pendant hanging from his neck and, in a domineering manner, placed it around Kang Tisi’s neck. “Kang Tisi, now you are my bride. When I grow up and become a great general, I’ll come to marry you. You must wait for me, understand?”

Kang Tisi looked at the wolf fang pendant on her chest and nodded in confusion.

Returning to his own tent, Lu Liao was lost in thought for a long time. He recounted the story to Emil, who laughed until she shook with delight.

“Looks like your little disciple has more discerning eyes than you. When Kang Tisi grows up, she’ll be even more beautiful than I am.”

“Nonsense! In my eyes, my Emil is the brightest jewel here.” Lu Liao retorted, pulling Emil into his arms.