Every city in the country was conscripting soldiers.
Grande was a major military town. Jian Qiao, who happened to be staying there, naturally couldnât escape military service.
Although heâd only brought a dozen or so knight captains, these captains had hundreds of knights under their command. As soon as they gave the order, these knights would march from Desolette and form a sizable army.
Of course, lords with far greater military power than Jian Qiao abounded, and all of them were enlisting in the army.
âLord Rege didnât join the expedition.â The knight commander who went outside to inquire about the news hurried back with a worried look. âLord Rege was detained in the palace by Queen Moen and prevented from leaving. For one thing, heâs about to get married, and he canât leave his bride to go fight in such a situation. But the Principality of Orson is sending troops to aid Gloria, which will be a great help. So it doesnât matter whether he goes or not. As long as he marries Princess Clarice, heâs already fulfilled his responsibility to protect the country.
âFor another thing, Schusterâs commander-in-chief is General Landon. General Landon once defeated Lord Rege and tortured him in a dungeon for three months. Itâs said that when Lord Rege escaped there wasnât a single patch of uninjured flesh on his body. General Langdon is the only formidable enemy he couldnât defeat. Queen Moen feared heâd die at the hands of General Landon, so she trapped him. Our commander-in-chief is Prince Andrew, which is terrible news. He doesnât know how to fight at all, but he loves adventure! Going to the front line with him is tantamount to gambling with your life. But the army of the Principality of Orson is very powerful, and thatâs our chance to pull through.â
The knight commander anxiously analyzed the situation.
Jian Qiaoâs attention, however, was completely diverted.
He bit his pale lips and asked, âRege was imprisoned for three months? Did, did he suffer a lot of wounds?â
The knight commander: â⊠Yes, he was tortured beyond recognition. Itâs said that several chunks of flesh were gouged from his body, and his legs were broken and left to heal on their own, which made him somewhat deformed. After returning, he had his legs rebroken and set, and with a full six months of bedrest he finally recovered. Langdon is an extremely cruel man. Like Prince Andrew, he takes pleasure in murder. Of all the enemy generals who fell into his hands, Lord Rege is the only one who lived.â
Jian Qiao held his dizzy head.
He couldnât stop imagining Regeâs blood-stained body. He felt a cold sweat on his skin, and the excruciating ache in his chest made him shudder.
The knight commander reminded him, âRight now you should consider how to survive this war. Your healthâŠ.â
He looked up and down at his masterâs thin body that was shaking like a leaf, and his expression was very uneasy. Forget going to the front. A cold rain on the road to the camp and his master could die of sickness.
In the army there were no high beds or soft pillows for him to convalesce, no expensive medicines for his treatment, and being exposed to the elements was a daily routine.
As he thought of this the knight commander rubbed his brow in distress.
Jian Qiao, however, was still concerned about Rege. âHow did he escape? Is he completely healed from his injuries? Heâs right not to go. He shouldnât goââ
The knight commander reached the end of his forbearance and couldnât help but remind him, âMy lord, thereâs no guarantee youâll live!â
Jian Qiao: ââŠâ
He hung his head to look at the conscription letter in his hand, which was already damp with sweat, and his bewitching face suddenly winced with pain.
Yes, for others this might be a chance for glory, but for him it was a death summons.
He was going to die!
Jian Qiao threw away the draft letter and covered his face, trembling slightly.
Just then, a figure appeared on the balcony outside.
The knight commander immediately drew his longsword and slashed at the intruder, but the opponent grabbed his wrist. A tremendous strength compressed the bones of the knightâs wrist, creaking them audibly and producing unbearable pain. With a cry the knight dropped the sword in his hand, then was pressed to the ground.
The exchange of blows between the two was completed in an instant, and the outcome was clear.
Faced with this man, the knight commander couldnât even fight back.
âRege?â Jian Qiao shouted in amazement.
The knight commander looked back and realized the person suppressing him was Rege. No wonder he was defeated so thoroughly and so quickly.
Regeâs blond hair messily cascaded down, covering his haggard face. It was clear heâd arrived in a hurry. His breathing was rough and heavy, like a ferocious beast.
âGet out. Let me speak with your master for a moment,â he ordered in a hoarse voice.
The knight commander turned his head and looked at Jian Qiao.
Jian Qiao intended to ask about Regeâs three month imprisonment, so he nodded.
Rege let go of the knight commanderâs hands.
The man immediately got up and left the room.
âWhat are you doing here?â Jian Qiao asked nervously.
Rege extended his hand. âGive me the ring with the Qiao family crest.â
Jian Qiao automatically took off the ring he was wearing on his thumb.
Rege threw the ring engraved with the anemone symbol into the fireplace, then grabbed the iron tongs and covered the ring with burning firewood.
âWhat are you doing?â Jian Qiao asked blankly.
Squatting by the fireplace, Rege kept adding wood to the fire, his voice deep and slow, âFear of blood, fear of rivers, fear of wind, fear of rain, how can you go to war like this?â
Jian Qiao felt offended.
He asked incredulously, âDid you climb up the balcony just to mock me?â
Our friendship is completely destroyed, isnât it? But that was a question he didnât dare to ask.
No matter how many disappointments and grievances there were, he couldnât confide in Rege, because he was the one whoâd rejected Rege in the first place. He couldnât give Rege what he wanted.
Rege turned back and gazed deeply at the man in front of him. The corners of his eyes were red, the tip of his nose was red, but his face was pale as paper. He looked so fragile yet so endearing.
Remembering the way heâd vomited after he was kissed, Rege looked away in embarrassment, pressing down the heart that was beating wildly for this person.
âIâm just stating facts. Fighting inevitably leads to bloodshed, marching inevitably leads to river crossings, and wind and rain are even more common. If you canât endure any of them youâll die.â His tone bordered on indifference.
Jian Qiao lowered his head, his face ashamed. Yes, he was a useless good-for-nothing.
Silence lengthened between the two.
Rege no longer spoke. He just used the iron tongs to slowly turn the ring buried in the fire.
When the ring glowed red, he gave the pliers to Jian Qiao and said in a deep voice, âTake it out. Donât clamp the face of the ring, clamp the band.â
Jian Qiao was uncertain, but he still walked forward and used the tongs to pick up the ring.
Rege suddenly took Jian Qiaoâs hand, forcing him to direct the face of the red-hot ring with the anemone emblem to the side of Regeâs neck.
Jian Qiao realized what he wanted to do and quickly stepped back, but Rege pulled him forward. The difference in power between the two was like a mountain and a breeze. One was unshakeable while the other was so light it could be ignored.
Jian Qiao wanted to loosen his grip on the tongs, but Regeâs big palm enveloped his entire hand.
Jian Qiao couldnât retreat and couldnât let go. He was forced to brand Regeâs deliberately exposed neck.
With a light sizzling sound, the smell of burnt flesh filled the room.
Rege, who was being burned by the ring, never made a sound. He didnât seem to feel any pain, but the green veins on his temples twitched a few times, then quickly subsided. He stared at Jian Qiaoâs face with a fierce expression as if he wanted to swallow him in one bite. Sweat streamed down his handsome face.
Jian Qiao was shocked and said in a broken voice, âWhat are you doing? Arenât you about to get married? After youâre married we can still be friends. We can be like we were before. Please donât hurt yourself.â
Unwitting tears fell from his eyes and stained his pale cheeks. He was in so much pain, more pain than when he was stabbed in the heart in his last life.
He realized Rege was punishing him.
Punishing him for his heartless rejection.
âDonât do this!â Jian Qiao kept begging and shaking his head.
The smell of burnt flesh and sweat forced out by concealed pain mixed into a pure and strong male scent that invaded Jian Qiaoâs lungs all at once. He thought he might not be able to forget this smell for the rest of his life.
Rege finally let go of his hand.
The burning hot ring and the iron tongs fell to the ground with a dull thud.
âNo wedding, no bride. I refused the marriage arranged by my sister. We can never go back, and I donât want to be your friend, understand?â Rege said with a hoarse voice, squeezing Jian Qiaoâs jaw.
After a momentâs pause, he actually spat an expletive into Jian Qiaoâs slightly reddened ears, âFuck being your friend!â
He stared at this manâs tearful expression with fierce and greedy eyes, engraving the fragile yet beautiful face on every corner of his heart.
âJian Qiao, I love you. Remember, itâs the kind of love that means having sex.â Rege dropped these words then jumped from the balcony, and there came a rush of horse hooves going farther and farther away.
Jian Qiao sank down to the floor in a deflated state. He picked up the glowing hot ring and let it sear his palm.
Right now only physical pain could relieve his inner pain.
Hearing the clatter of horse hooves, the knight commander opened the door to see if his master was safe. Almost immediately he noticed the burning scent in the air and discovered Jian Qiaoâs self-harm, so he quickly pried open the otherâs hand, took away the ring, and called the servants and the doctor.
There was commotion in the room.
Only when Jian Qiaoâs wound was bandaged and heâd calmed down did the knight commander ask him what happened.
With difficulty Jian Qiao described how Rege had made him brand a mark on his neck, asking, âDid I hurt him too deeply? Is this his punishment for me?â
The knight commander was stunned for a long time before he shook his head with a complicated expression. â No, heâs not punishing you, heâs saving you. â
The knight commander rolled up his sleeve to reveal a burn scar on his arm. The center of this scar showed an anemone flower, the Qiao familyâs emblem.
âWhen knights swear allegiance to their masters, they mark themselves with a branding iron engraved with their masterâs crest. This imprint was made when I swore to your father. From then on I became the sword and spear in your fatherâs hand, taking his place in battle against all enemies.â
The knight commander paused for a moment. His tone became very grateful, âJust now, Lord Rege swore allegiance to you. He took your mark and will be your knight from now on. Heâll go to the battlefield instead of you, to allow you to stay in Grande in peace. Your life is saved.â
Jian Qiao looked at the knight commander with a pale face.
He knew all these words, but it was as if he couldnât understand a single one.
âRege will replace me on the battlefield and go to war?â he asked incredulously.
âYes, he bears the mark of allegiance to you. His going to war is the same as your going to war, therefore the letter of enlistment can no longer bind you. Please wait for me here in Grande. After the war is over, I may or may not be able to return. If I donât return, take the knights who survive the campaign and go back to Desolette.â
The knight commander put his scarred hand over his left breast, went down on one knee in salute, then strode away.
Two more teardrops fell on Jian Qiaoâs face. He was stunned by the knight commanderâs words, âmay not be able to returnâ.
After Rege left, he might not ever come backâŠ.
TL Notes:
Transliterated names, titles, and placesânew in this chapter:
äž»ćž â zhÇ shuĂ i â commander-in-chief â main commander
äżźæŻçč â XiĆ«SÄ«TĂš â Schuster. This is apparently another empire in Tortus. The name only appears once in the text. Alternatively: Shust, Thuster.
ć°ć â jiÄng jĆ«n â general â army general