CHAPTER 672: CHAPTER 652: ACTING COQUETTISHLY

A thrilling duel—both the most renowned generals of Beining and Beiman suffered injuries and spilled blood, yet no victor emerged. The burning desire in their eyes flared higher, an unyielding determination to fight to the end; neither was willing to abandon the match halfway.

Blood flowed down Xie Xun’s chest, soaking his robes. Dugu Jing’s slashed arm throbbed painfully. Xie Xun’s spear pressed against Dugu Jing’s heart, while Dugu Jing’s spear pointed at Xie Xun’s abdomen. If Xie Xun penetrated Dugu Jing’s heart, Dugu Jing’s spear would surely pierce through Xie Xun’s midsection.

Neither could survive!

The cold wind whipped up flurries of snow, settling upon their brows, mingling with the image of mountains, rivers, and the fires of war, against a backdrop of countless soldier corpses strewn around them. They both understood—one strike forward, and the fragile peace between Beiman and Beining would shatter, leading to endless bloodshed!

Sweat mixed with blood dripped into their eyes. Xie Xun’s peerlessly elegant face took on a savage fierceness, like that of a beast. He wanted to kill Dugu Jing!

A single step away!

The generations-long grudges between the Marquis Zhenbei Mansion and the Beiman Royal Family demanded a resolution.

Should they continue fighting?

Or reach out for reconciliation?

"Dugu Jing, are we still fighting?" Xie Xun broke the tense silence. His voice, carried by the wind and snow, struck directly at Dugu Jing’s heart. Two lone wolves burned with the thirst for battle, but behind them, the wolf packs yearned for peace.

"Ninth Uncle..." The Fourth Princess anxiously called out to Dugu Jing. His gaze swept over the snowstorm and caught sight of his two nieces standing beside Fengyu, their worried expressions directed at him.

In that instant, Dugu Jing withdrew his spear. As he retreated, Xie Xun did the same. Gripping his spear tightly, he planted it into the ground and extended his hand toward Dugu Jing.

Each of their past encounters had been marked by iron and steel, by swords and blades. But for the first time, Xie Xun extended a hand of friendship toward Dugu Jing—as though the longstanding enmity between Beiman Royal Family and the Marquis Zhenbei Mansion might finally be laid to rest. Together, they hoped to forge a new era, one without war.

Dugu Jing looked at Xie Xun, whose face was smeared with blood and sweat. Blood had nearly soaked his chest entirely, yet he still stretched his hand forward. Though no victory had been decided, the regret eased the frustration in Dugu Jing’s heart. Grasping Xie Xun’s hand, he leveraged the grip to rise. Fengyu turned away and issued orders, "Have Doctor Zhang wait at Changshou Palace."

"Understood!" Zhang Boxi sent someone to summon the Imperial Physician and also dispatched medical help for Dugu Jing’s injuries.

After rising, Dugu Jing straightened his attire and said coldly, "Xie Xun, no victor today. Another day, we will fight again!"

Xie Xun stood firm like a pine tree and replied calmly, "Alright, I’ll be ready anytime!"

Few people find a worthy opponent in life. Though Xie Xun felt regret over their unresolved duel, he deeply understood the lingering dissatisfaction in Dugu Jing’s heart.

Time waits for no one. If Dugu Jing had been born in Beining instead of Beiman, he would undoubtedly have been a legendary general, remembered throughout time.

Xie Xun forced himself to remain conscious. Once he returned to Changshou Palace, his face was ghostly pale from excessive blood loss. Zhang Lingzheng had been waiting at the palace well in advance to treat him. His shoulder injury, though severe and nearly pierced through, had not damaged any organs or bones. The sight of it was alarming, but it posed no fatal threat beyond the excessive loss of blood.

Fengyu peeled red dates and fed them to him, her heart aching as she glanced at his wound. Even wrapped in bandages, the blood could hardly be concealed. Xie Xun knew she was worried and smiled as he said, "It doesn’t hurt at all. It just looks worse than it is. This battle was thoroughly satisfying, so these injuries are worth it."

Zhang Lingzheng, still preparing medicine nearby, furrowed his brows at those words and retorted crossly, "Your Majesty, in freezing weather like this, the worst enemies are windchill and injuries. If poorly cared for, they’ll leave lifelong ailments. You already have old wounds. While youth may allow quicker recovery, in ten years’ time you’ll come to understand the pain. Old cold legs come about just like this. Don’t take it lightly—avoid swords and spears as much as possible."

Xie Xun, annoyed by Zhang Lingzheng’s bluntness, gave him a glare. With Fengyu present, Zhang Lingzheng showed no real fear. After the Imperial Physicians had all retreated, envoys from the cabinet came to inquire about Xie Xun’s injury. He instructed Zhang Boxi to handle them, while Fengyu helped him lean halfway back. "Why did you get into a fight with Dugu Jing?" she asked.

"He provoked me. Do you think I’d shrink away?"

"You may have proven your bravery, but I was terrified watching from the sidelines. That spear—had it shifted just slightly—it wouldn’t have pierced your shoulder but your heart." Fengyu recalled the moment the spear plunged into Xie Xun’s shoulder; her breath had stopped, and her vision had gone dark. It was the second time she’d witnessed Xie Xun’s ferocious battles firsthand.

It was always Dugu Jing—his true nemesis!

"Blades have no eyes; flesh wounds are inevitable. We were supposed to have a duel but were forced to postpone it. Both of us were holding back frustrations. I wanted to fight him too. Ayu, don’t be angry. It won’t happen again!" Xie Xun took advantage of the absence of others to hook her finger playfully, coaxing her.

Fengyu, "..."

If anyone else saw this, it would be scandalous.