His Rui

In the early morning, the soldiers, Commander Xie and Xi Ying started their search in forests. Commander Xie was worried that if they took too many soldiers and the enemies attacked on the border again then the manpower to fight against them would be less. 

However, Xi Ying told him nonchalantly that the enemy country will not attack again. 

He had already done his investigation. All of their resources were depleted in the last battle. 

Because they believed General Yun, they paid the price. 

For them to start the war again, they would need at least six months to gather all that resources such as a huge army and weapons again. 

Commander Xie was now starting to trust him slowly. So he didn't argue much and took one-third of the soldiers to search for General Li.

Amidst the dense forests, a few soldiers were cutting the bushes to make the way for horses.

Commander Ji was tied behind the horse and a soldier was riding the same horse. The horse sometimes ran too fast or sometimes at a normal pace. 

The chubby commander was forced to walk accordingly making the soldiers laugh at his sweaty and red face.

Commander Xie didn't restrain his soldiers and let them have fun with Commander Ji as if he didn't notice anything. 

The long day passed like this. Soon everyone could see the setting sun in the sky.

The soldiers looked at their commander and Xi You who didn't seem to have any wish to stop and continued their journey silently.

Commander Xie glanced at the half-dimmed sky and said suddenly.

"Commander Ji might be lying to us by showing the wrong way."

Xi Ying heard the words and continued to move his horse forward.

"No"

He was assured that Commander Ji would not dare to lie after the fear he had incurred inside him. So he was not worried about this.

What he was worried about is how many more people might be there where General Li and his son are kept.

The Crown Prince's people, General Yun's people or there might be Emperor people also hiding in the shadows protecting that place from any kind of invasion.

That was why he had to take Commander Xie's help.

Without the soldiers, he would have to reveal his shadow guards. So if he was going to find General Li with soldiers then no one would suspect him. Those shadow guards were a small and secret army of Xi Clan so he can't let them be exposed in front of those Imperial family members.

With the soldiers, his shadow guards would be able to hide among them.

Those people will be killed by his shadow guards but for everyone else, the soldiers killed them.

It was a perfect plan.

---------------

Twenty minutes later, Xi Ying suddenly heard the eagle's cry from the sky and his eyes flickered.

He raised his hand and the soldiers behind him stopped.

He got down from his horse and walked to the panting Commander Ji who was about to lose consciousness.

"How much time it took you that day to reach there?"

"Huh?"

Since he had not seen Li Rui for two days now, Xi Ying's mood was already very bad.

Seeing the dozing commander, he grabbed the water pouch from the nearby horse and threw the cold water on the commander's face mercilessly.

On the borders, the days were very hot while the nights were very cold so the cold water stabbed Commander Ji's skin like knives, and he was wide awake now. Seeing Xo Ying in front of himself, he stepped back in fear and tears fell out of his eyes.

For a moment, even Commander Xie felt pity for the chubby commander.

However, Xi Ying was indifferent. He stepped forward and asked again

"How much time it took you to reach there before?"

"Sss....six shichen"  (*Twelve Hours*)

Getting the answer he needed, Xi Ying turned to Commander Xie who understood what he was thinking.

They were close. Very close.

---------------

Far away from the borders, a shabby hut in the forest was covered by the bushes. The soldiers were patrolling outside the hut.

Suddenly a scream pierced through the silence of the night which was muffled soon.

Inside the shabby hut, a young man was kicked mercilessly as he laid on the ground curling up his body to reduce the impact of the kicks somehow.

"Scream....scream now. Why don't you scream? Do you think that we are stupid and can't see what you two are trying to do?"

While saying his last sentence, the man who was moving his legs blindly kicked the other man who was lying in the corner.

After a while, the man stopped suddenly.

"Since you want to save him so badly, I will see what you will do now."

The two men who were lying on the ground raised their heads with difficulty when they heard his words.

"Drag the General inside."

Soon a middle-aged man whose face was bruised and swollen was dragged inside by two men.

"Welcome General Li"

General Li saw the two men on the ground and his eyes were filled with rage.

The man smirked provocatively as he looked at the angered General.

He then looked down at the two men on the ground and laughed.

"General Li, I was trying to be as merciful as possible but what can I do when your two subordinates are not letting me do my work."

Saying this, he looked at General Li whose hands were tied with rope.

"Now tell me General, where are the other things that your ancestors have left?"

General Li's expression didn't change a bit.

Seeing the tight-lipped General, the man smirked and said

"Though I was asked to keep the General alive, I was also asked to kill him if he creates trouble..."

He paused and took out the dagger from his waist. Putting the dagger on General Li's neck, he continued

"and I will never hesitate to do the second thing."

"Father"

"Uncle Li"

Two roars simultaneously echoed in the shabby hut.

Bearing the pain in his body, Yi Lei suddenly crawled to the man holding the dagger and kicked his leg.

Li Diu saw the dagger on the ground and immediately picked it up but he was pinned down on the ground by the other men.

The dagger in his hands was taken away.

After being kicked, the man was angry.

Seeing the eyes that were filled with murderous intent, General Li was not afraid even a bit.

He closed his eyes silently. A small smile appeared on his lips as the picture of his wangfei flashed in his mind.

"Yi Jie..."

He whispered the name of his beloved as he waited for his death.

*(Please read the author's note)*