Finest Servant

Chapter 545 Let the Turks Remember the Pain

Yujia pondered for a moment and suddenly realized something. Her expression changed dramatically as she dashed out, shouting at her tribespeople who were running away in the distance, "Kelaydıñdar (come back), bәrіñiz kelaydıñ (you all come back)!"

The released Turkic people sprinted away, covering a distance of a third of a mile in an instant. They couldn't hear her cries. Yueya'er, in her desperation, was about to leap forward when she was stopped by a pair of strong, muscular arms.

Lin Wanrong stood in front of her, smiling gently, "Your shouting is futile; they can't hear you. Look at how gracefully they run. Ah, life is precious to everyone—"

"Devil!" Enraged, Yujia lunged at him, gripping his wildly flailing arms and bit down hard.

Another bite? A piercing pain shot through him. Lin Wanrong grimaced and roared, shaking her off. Yujia yelped as she fell to the ground. Looking down, he saw another clear crescent-shaped mark on the back of his hand, from which blood slowly oozed. It mirrored the bite mark from the previous day.

Annoyed at having been bitten twice by Yujia, Lin Wanrong snapped, "Little sister, can't you do something other than biting?"

Yujia glared at him, her white teeth clenched tightly against her red lips, "Are you planning to ambush Dalanzha?"

Though accustomed to her intelligence, Lin Wanrong was still taken aback when she pinpointed his intentions. This Turkic girl was a formidable combination of beauty and brains. One of her was worth a hundred thousand Turkic cavalry. Fortunately, she was in his hands; otherwise, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"Dalanzha? Is that your Turkic tribe?" Lin Wanrong chuckled, a cold glint in his eyes, "Rest assured, Miss Yujia, if I have the time, I'll pay a visit."

Yujia, discerning his intentions, clenched her fists, her eyes ablaze with indomitable spirit, "You despicable Great Hua man, you would raise your blade against my tribespeople in Dalanzha? I hate you! Yujia hates you!"

"Hate me?" Lin Wanrong sneered, "Go ahead. I never expected you to fall in love with me anyway."

"You—you lowly, despicable wolf!" Who in the world could out-talk Lin Wanrong? The Turkic girl was so angry her face turned pale, her body trembling. She couldn't find a single word in the Great Hua language to describe this Great Hua bandit.

Lin Wanrong spoke dispassionately, "To call me a wolf is quite flattering from you, Miss Yujia. I'm far from such a beastly nature. We have an old saying in the Great Hua: 'Do not do unto others what you do not wish for yourself.' You sympathize with your own people, feeling their pain as if your heart were being cut with a knife. That's good; it shows you have a sense of humanity. But what about when your people slaughter my Great Hua brethren? Have you ever spared a thought for how they feel? Aren't there people weeping for them too? Where does your overflowing sympathy go then? Yes, I have killed members of your tribe, and for that, you may think me despicable. But when your Turkic people massacre countless Great Hua civilians, is that noble? To put it bluntly, the Turkic people are also wolves, wolves devoid of humanity. Your sense of morality, Miss Yujia, is aimed at everyone but yourself. And yet you still sit there, acting self-righteous and superior. It's laughable, truly laughable."

His tone was neither salty nor bland, but his eyes burned intensely as he gazed at Yujia, filled with a mix of pity and disdain, as if he, in that moment, was the true master of the Turkic people.

If he had said these things to Sheng Dan or La Buli, it would have been like playing a lute to a cow, a complete waste of effort. But Yujia was someone well-versed in Great Hua culture and exceptionally intelligent. When she heard his words, they struck her differently.

Yujia clenched her teeth, struggling to lift her head, unwilling to be looked down upon by this Great Hua bandit. But each time her eyes met his sharp gaze, she felt herself involuntarily losing ground.

After a few attempts with the same result, she lowered her head, her eyes shimmering as she let out a reluctant sigh. "If someone were willing to seriously consider your suggestions, would you spare Dalanzha?"

"Spare them? Impossible," Lin Wanrong firmly shook his head. "Did you ever think of sparing my people the moment you invaded Great Hua and slaughtered my kin? War is not child's play. Since the Turkic people have started this war, someone must pay the price. Only when you have bled will you understand the meaning of pain—corpses scattered everywhere, homes ruined, families torn apart, lives shattered. Without deeply understanding this suffering, the Turkic people will never know what Great Hua has endured."

These words resolutely underscored his intent: the Turkic people must pay in blood, and there was no room for negotiation. His hardline stance angered Yujia. Her delicate eyebrows raised slightly as she retorted, "The blood of my people will not flow in vain; you will pay the price!"

Lin Wanrong burst into hearty laughter, shaking his head as he looked at her. "Miss Yujia, you've only learned Great Hua writing and medicine but will never understand the character of us Great Hua people. My brothers and I didn't come here expecting to leave alive. Threatening me with that is simply humiliating yourself."

Yujia hesitated, staring at the scornful smile on this Great Hua bandit's face. A strange feeling arose in her heart. Though the great plains were her and her people's territory, standing before this Great Hua man, she felt as if her fate were controlled by someone else. All her intelligence and wisdom seemed utterly useless against this fearless Great Hua man.

She clenched her teeth, her face flushed with anger. With a small swing of her fist towards Lin Wanrong, she conveyed, "I, Yujia, will never let you go." The rare display of girlish defiance left Lin Wanrong momentarily stunned, but a smile eventually crept into his heart.

"Oh, right," Lin Wanrong said, pausing after a few steps and turning back to Yujia with a sly grin. "I was so caught up in my joy that I forgot to inform you, little sister Yueya'er, about something very important."

Important? Every time Lin Wanrong uttered those words, it was never good news for her. Yujia felt her scalp tingle. "Can't you just say everything at once?" she gritted through her teeth.

"Ah, questioning me now? Good, good!" Lin Wanrong chuckled. "Our army is about to enter an era of rapid, high-tempo warfare on the plains. To ensure your safety, little sister Yueya'er, we've decided after thorough discussion to provide you, Miss Yujia, with even stricter protection—eating, living, and working alongside me!"

Yujia's face turned pale. "You shameless Great Hua man, just kill me!"

"Please, Miss Yujia, keep it clean," Lin Wanrong retorted irritably. "I'm not that kind of man—even if you were willing, my wife wouldn't agree! We're just sharing a tent, not a bed. We can even put up a curtain in between. You Turks don't have any silly rules about men and women not touching, do you? Wait, are you trying to kill yourself?"

Yujia's golden scimitar was at her throat, tears filling her eyes. "I will never let a wolf tarnish my honor—"

"I wouldn't let a little she-wolf from the plains tarnish me either," Lin Wanrong snorted. "I was going to give you a chance to assassinate me. But if you don't want to, fine, go ahead and kill yourself. Little Li's injuries should be fine by now."

Stunned, Yujia was about to make her move when Lin Wanrong muttered, "—After you're done, I'll strip you naked and send you to Dalanzha to see if anyone recognizes you. Ah, I really look forward to that moment."

Those words drained Yujia of even the strength to cry. Seeing Lin Wanrong's triumphant expression, a deep sadness flashed in her eyes.

"Don't flatter yourself. If I wanted to take advantage of you, I would have done it long ago," Lin Wanrong advised solemnly. "I'm not the man you think I am. You should know that in Great Hua, we have a gentleman known for his self-control, named Liuxia Hui. I never told you this, but I'm his cousin. If you don't believe me, a few nights together will make it clear."

He left those words hanging, not caring for Yujia's feelings, and walked away laughing heartily.

Yujia's eyes flickered for a long while before she finally clenched her teeth and muttered, "You shameless Great Hua man, I will defeat you and make you kneel before me."

Gao Qiu pricked up his ears, eavesdropping for a moment. Seeing Lin Wanrong approaching hastily, he quickly grabbed his sleeve and earnestly said, "Brother Lin, I have a question—Who is the cousin of Liuxia Hui? How come I've never heard of him?"

[TL: Liuxia Hui here refers to a historical character. From wiki: He was governor of the District of Liuxia in the Lu State. He was a man of eminent virtue, and is said on one occasion to have held a lady in his lap without the slightest imputation on his moral character.]

"You don't know? Brother Gao, you've truly become pure!" Lin Wanrong laughed and glanced at him, "The cousin of Liuxia Hui is 'Hui Xia Liu.'"

Gao Qiu stood there stunned for a while before finally regaining his senses. He couldn't help but burst into hearty laughter. "Brother Lin, you really are something! Liuxia Hui's cousin is indeed 'Hui Xia Liu,' which sounds like 'capable of being indecent!'"

‘This lecher got sidetracked again.’ Observing Gao Qiu's lewd excitement, Lin Wanrong couldn't help but shake his head and sigh, "Am I really that easy to misunderstand?"

The setting sun in the west slowly dipped, revealing half of its face. Its golden afterglow sprinkled across the prairie, illuminating the distant green grass and flowers. Twilight gradually descended, and the slightly chilly spring breeze brushed against the wild grass and small flowers beneath their feet, creating faint ripples like a breeze gliding over water.

Under the distant dome of the sky, countless large felt tents appeared like white flowers swaying on the horizon. Herds of cattle and sheep grazed leisurely on the grassland, slowly approaching the tents. From time to time, clear and melodious songs drifted over, the distinctively robust voices of the Turkic people penetrating the plains. This massive nomadic tribe seemed exceptionally peaceful and serene under the setting sun.

"Brother Hu, how are things?" A shadow darted into the bushes where Hu Bugui was hiding and whispered beside him.

Hu Bugui turned his head, and Lin Wanrong's bearded face appeared before him. After days of marching and fighting, everyone was disheveled, their faces covered in dust and hair and beards untamed. Even Lin Wanrong's face had become somewhat unclear in these conditions. Yet his unique wheat-colored healthy skin, dotted with light beads of sweat, shimmered golden in the sunset.

"General, you are indeed a strategic genius; Dalanzha is right ahead. Look," Hu Bugui pointed with a large hand, his face gleaming with excitement. He had led several scouts on a forced march to this point and had been in hiding for some time. He hadn't expected that General Lin would personally follow to gather intelligence on the enemy. To be this close to a Turkic tribe was a first in the history of the Great Hua Empire. Thinking of what would unfold next, Hu Bugui was immediately filled with excitement.

Lin Wanrong hummed in agreement and gazed into the distance. Beneath the far-off heavens, the white felt tents connected one after another, vanishing into the horizon. Columns of cooking smoke rose, the hooves of the returning steeds gently tapping against the prairie. The melodious pastoral songs of the Turkic people floated in the wind, lingering for a long while.

The Turkic tribe of Dalanzha, bathed in the afterglow of the setting sun, seemed as serene and tranquil as any of the countless peaceful villages in the Great Hua Empire.

"After making some initial estimates, the Dalanzha tribe has over 8,000 Turkic people. Apart from 1,500 or so able-bodied men, the rest are women, numbering over 2,000, and children over 2,000 as well. The remaining are mostly elderly, frail, or sickly," Hu Bugui said, rubbing his palms together in excitement. A Turkic tribe of this size would usually have at least 5,000 or 6,000 able-bodied men in its prime. However, the ongoing war between the Turks and Great Hua had pulled most of their men to the front lines, leaving behind a nearly defenseless tribe. For Hu Bugui and his 5,000 Great Hua soldiers, this was a delectable piece of meat practically in their mouths already.

Lin Wanrong gave a noncommittal grunt, and sighed softly. "Were it not for those white yurts and numerous flocks of sheep, I would have thought we'd returned to one of our peaceful little villages in Great Hua."

"Exactly," Hu Bugui agreed wholeheartedly. "This Turkic tribe is similar to our villages in Great Hua. If I hadn't seen them invade our lands and slaughter our kin, I would hardly believe that this peaceful tribe could transform into savage wolves in the blink of an eye."

"People are dual-natured, aren't they? Under extreme conditions, anyone could turn into a wolf," Lin Wanrong sighed lightly. "Brother Hu, what have you done with the members of Yueya'er's tribe that we released?"

Hu Bugui chuckled awkwardly. "We covertly followed them until they were not far from Dalanzha. To prevent them from alerting others, we had to—" He drew his finger sharply across his neck, the implication clear.

Lin Wanrong chuckled, "That's not very good, is it? I promised Yueya'er I'd release them."

"General, you indeed set them free," Hu Bugui said with a sly smile. "It's just their bad luck they ran into us again. Miss Yueya'er can't blame you for that. If anyone is to blame, it's her tribespeople for not using their heads when they ran."

Old Hu was learning the art of thick-skinned excuses, Lin Wanrong thought as he laughed a few times, not commenting further.

After the Turks unified the plains, they either subdued or massacred other tribes, making it their domain entirely. The people of Dalanzha probably never thought Great Hua would dare to venture so deeply into the plains. Their outposts were only point six miles away—essentially non-existent. For Lin Wanrong, this lax defense was a godsend.

As darkness deepened, the rest of the troops caught up. The soldiers fitted the Turkic horses with bits and slowed their pace, moving forward soundlessly.

Yueya'er and her remaining dozen or so tribespeople had been deliberately kept at the back by Lin Wanrong. All were tightly bound, their mouths stuffed with rags, rendering them unable to struggle or shout—Yueya'er included.

Taming this young she-wolf had been a struggle; she'd scratched his cheek and landed a few blows on him. However, General Lin had his ways of secretly making up for the hardships he'd endured.

Since they shared meals, accommodations, and labor, Lin Wanrong unceremoniously climbed into Yueya’er's fragrant carriage. As if to assert his dominance, he took several deep breaths of the fresh air inside. Yueya’er was bound like a wrapped dumpling, struggling desperately. Her beautiful face was flushed red, and her eyes shot flames of fury, as if she wished to burn this dark-faced bandit to ashes.

"Miss Yueya’er, I have some good news for you—we have arrived at Dalanzha!" Lin Wanrong grinned, his voice echoing melodiously. Yueya’er's body stiffened abruptly before she began to twist wildly, her legs kicking toward him furiously, her eyes reflecting deep pain.

Ignoring her serpentine and enticing movements, he lightly patted her soft, fragrant shoulder, and said with a smirk, "It's your first time, so some pain is inevitable. You'll get used to it eventually."

The Turkic girl growled incoherently, unable to articulate her thoughts.

Stepping down from the carriage, Lin Wanrong unsheathed his battle sword high into the air, his angry roar reverberating across the plains. "Brothers, let the Turks forever remember this pain. Charge!"

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