In the mountains of Pei Commandery.
"Ding dong, ding dong!"
Two clear mountain springs, one high and one low, flowed down with varying speeds and sounds.
The spring water fell to form a clear, bright green pool. The water splashed against the surface, creating sparkling droplets that clustered and scattered like fallen pearls from the South Sea.
A faint mist of steam hovered above the pool, diffusing gently.
Beneath the clear water lay a shallow basin formed by pebbles. It held some spring water, and every pebble and grain of sand at the bottom was clearly visible. The water occasionally stirred up the sand and pebbles, making it turbid, but soon they settled beautifully at the bottom. The water was so clear, and the scenery so picturesque.
"Splash!" With a sound, Murong Huiying used a delicate silk scarf to stir the clear spring water. After dipping it and wringing it out, she walked over, knelt beside Zhou Fugui, and began to wipe away the blood, dirt, and sweat from his face.
The fact that the dignified Princess Ziyue of the Great Yan Kingdom, the legitimate daughter of Prince Murong Bole, the Left Virtuous King, was tending so attentively to a mere household slave would have surely astounded onlookers, shocking the Han and being unacceptable to the Xianbei.
Yet Zhou Fugui accepted it calmly, showing no regard. He neither refused nor expressed gratitude, nor did he even glance at Murong Huiying. He merely held his long saber and sat on the rocks, lost in his own thoughts.
Murong Huiying paid no mind to Zhou Fugui's indifference. Her intelligence allowed her to understand the pain and struggle within his heart.
The White Tiger Camp, led by Zhou Fugui, had originally numbered three thousand soldiers, but now only a little over fifteen hundred cavalry remained. Where had the rest gone? They had either died in battle, scattered, or surrendered to the Xia army. There was no fourth possibility. In such chaotic times, the chances of survival for those who had scattered were extremely low. Therefore, regardless of the outcome, Zhou Fugui, who had always valued loyalty and righteousness, must have been in immense pain.
In fact, it was a miracle that Zhou Fugui managed to lead over fifteen hundred cavalry alive when tens of thousands of Xia troops surrounded his mere three thousand soldiers of the White Tiger Camp.
This was, of course, greatly attributed to the high mobility of cavalry. It was also a testament to Zhou Fugui's foresight or perhaps a premonition. Before being ordered to defend against the enemy at Luyi, he had requested many warhorses from Murong Tengge. While being a cavalryman and being able to ride a horse were different, infantry with horses still had a significant advantage over infantry without.
Moreover, the people of Yan Yun possessed some equestrian skills or archery from horseback.
As Murong Huiying considered this, her feelings for Zhou Fugui were filled with even more pity and regret.
Zhou Fugui's refusal to surrender his unit to the Xia army made Murong Huiying cherish and respect him even more, with a deeper sense of apology.
If Zhou Fugui had led the White Tiger Camp to surrender to the Xia, Murong Huiying wouldn't have known how to face the situation.
Zhou Fugui's surrender to Xia would have made him an enemy of Great Yan, and thus naturally an enemy of Murong Huiying. However, becoming enemies with Zhou Fugui would have caused her immense grief and was something she was extremely unwilling to do.
Murong Huiying had been torn by this dilemma throughout her journey searching for Zhou Fugui, to the point of recklessness, venturing too far, and becoming trapped in the nameless valley by the Xia army, almost losing her life.
"Mmm..."
Zhou Fugui continued to ignore Murong Huiying. She, however, was unbothered. After wiping away the blood, dirt, and sweat from his face, a young and heroic countenance was revealed. Murong Huiying seemed immensely satisfied with her "work," clapping her hands and letting out a pleased "Mmm."
Zhou Fugui glanced at Murong Huiying, then returned to his meditative state, holding his saber.
"Fugui..." Murong Huiying said softly as she cleaned her silk scarf in the spring water. She walked back to Zhou Fugui and said gently, "Whatever is troubling you, just speak it out. Don't keep it bottled up."
Zhou Fugui continued to hold his saber, his gaze fixed on the ripples on the spring's surface, as if he hadn't heard her.
"What exactly happened these past few days? Can you tell me?" Murong Huiying, unfazed and looking at Zhou Fugui with affection, continued, "Fugui... do you know... do you know why I... why I like you? It's... it's because of your... your broad mind, your kindness towards others, and your 'chivalrous spirit with a tender heart' that you always speak of. You are not a monk or a hermit, yet you possess their spirit. Fugui, do you understand?"
Murong Huiying had undergone painful internal struggle before uttering these words. Yet, even after setting aside her princessly dignity and her feminine pride, Zhou Fugui remained unmoved, only his sword-like eyebrows lifting slightly.
Murong Huiying watched Zhou Fugui intently. Seeing that he had finally reacted, she rejoiced inwardly and continued softly, "But... Fugui, I hope you can always remain this way. I... I don't want you to become a beast, a beast that only knows how to kill, nor do I want you to be so consumed by madness!"
The bloody and brutal slaughter Zhou Fugui had exhibited like a wild beast before the nameless valley had greatly surprised and terrified Murong Huiying, leaving her with lingering fear.
Battlefield killings were commonplace. Murong Huiying had accompanied her father on campaigns for many years and was accustomed to such sights. However, she did not wish for Zhou Fugui to be like this, like a beast that only knew how to kill, or a cold killing machine.
Zhou Fugui had once detested senseless killing the most.
Fighting on the battlefield, where it was either life or death, was normal. But why raise the butcher's knife after surrendering? As Zhou Fugui had done before the nameless valley.
Great Yan had many who were brutal and fierce, or brave and skilled in battle. Many were even young heroes, and many were of noble birth, like Murong Kang. Yet Murong Huiying did not like them. She had dismissed their advances and flirtations with disdain. Why then did she happen to like Zhou Fugui? It was precisely because of his simple, kind righteousness, his loyalty and deep affection, and his willingness to risk his life to save a woman to whom he owed no obligation.
At the time, Murong Huiying had found it amusing, but unconsciously, she had gradually grown to like him.
If Zhou Fugui hadn't been in such a state today, Murong Huiying wouldn't have disregarded her appearance and poured out her heart.
"A beast? Hahaha, madness?" Hearing this, Zhou Fugui finally spoke, letting out a burst of wild laughter.
"Camp Commander! Hurry and leave! Hurry and leave!"
"Ah!"
"We shall die today!"
"Kill! Kill!"
"My Lord, if you don't leave now, we will die before your eyes!"
The Battle of Luyi, due to the sudden withdrawal of Albu Gu and Balhu's forces, had left Zhou Fugui and his White Tiger Camp surrounded and attacked by the Xia army. The White Tiger Camp suffered heavy casualties, losing more than half its strength. Over fifteen hundred brothers had died tragically before Zhou Fugui's eyes, including many of his fellow villagers and comrades. How could Zhou Fugui not be immensely grieved? How could he not be enraged?
Zhou Fugui had sworn an oath to bring them home. Yet, more and more soldiers of the White Tiger Camp died, their bodies perishing in a foreign land, their remains unfound. How could Zhou Fugui not be heartbroken? How could he not be furious?
Gu Gou Nu, Liu Qing Miao, and other fellow villagers had led their troops in a desperate stand to cover Zhou Fugui's retreat, only to be utterly massacred by the Xia army.
The horrific scene of Gu Gou Nu, Liu Qing Miao, and other fellow villagers being brutally slain by the fierce Xia army would reappear before Zhou Fugui's eyes whenever he calmed down. He could only engage in frenzied killing to momentarily alleviate the pain, grief, and rage in his heart.
The perpetrators of this tragedy were Albu Gu and his ilk, not the Xia army. Clashes between two armies, with mutual slaughter, were common and not surprising. Zhou Fugui, though somewhat crazed, understood this clearly in his heart.
His frenzied slaughter of the Xia army in the nameless valley was merely Zhou Fugui's transference of his hatred for Albu Gu and others onto the Xia soldiers.
But were Albu Gu and his ilk truly the culprits of this tragedy?
Zhou Fugui's desperate struggle against the Xia army, leading over a thousand cavalry to break through the encirclement and fight to the death rather than surrender, was not out of loyalty to Great Yan. It was because Zhou Fugui was still concerned about his family's safety and still sought survival. Moreover, even if Zhou Fugui and his men had wanted to surrender, the Xia army would have had to offer them the opportunity. The Xia army had immediately attacked the White Tiger Camp with lethal force, intending to annihilate them all.
"When your brothers and family die before your eyes, can you still remain calm and composed? Can you still banter and laugh?" Zhou Fugui then stood up, glaring fiercely at Murong Huiying, and asked.
"Zhou Fugui!" Despite Zhou Fugui's man-eating demeanor, Murong Huiying showed no fear. Standing tall and straight, she retorted, "When two nations are at war, casualties are common. If everyone acted like you, what kind of commanders would lead, and what kind of wars would be fought? A general should remain unflustered even when Mount Tai collapses before him. If a few subordinates fall, should you panic, become enraged, and lose composure? You will lose your basic judgment, which will inevitably lead to the deaths of more subordinates."
Murong Huiying sighed, her voice softening, filled with sadness. "You are not the only one who has watched loved ones die before their eyes. You are not the only one who has experienced life and death separations. It is the same for Yingying and for my father."
Over a hundred loyal warriors of the Fiery Flame Camp had followed Murong Huiying in searching for Zhou Fugui, and only eight remained, all wounded. Murong Huiying was also deeply saddened.
"Hmph! This is your own doing!" Zhou Fugui said indignantly. "Launching an unjust war, marching south to invade Xia, causing widespread suffering and displacement, leading to the great defeat at Niuzhu and countless casualties – this is truly your own doing. Hmph! If Heaven does not pity the people, the people will surely overthrow Heaven!"
"Zhou Fugui, you are going too far! How dare you utter such treasonous words before this princess?" Murong Huiying exclaimed in anger.
"Treasonous words?" Zhou Fugui, his eyes red, stared at Murong Huiying and sneered coldly. "You say I speak treasonous words. Today, not only will I speak them, but I will also act upon them."
Having spoken, Zhou Fugui's wild rage erupted, and he pounced on Murong Huiying, knocking her down by the edge of the spring pool.