Chapter 8: All I Wish Is for You to Return Safely

“General Chen is truly formidable...”

The villagers gathered around as the village chief leisurely began his tale—

Five years ago, the three great tribes of the Wolf Rong—the Black Wolf, Blue Wolf, and Blood Wolf—assembled fifty thousand cavalry and marched southward.

The northern border defenses were on the brink of collapse.

At this critical moment, the Northern Garrison Army rushed to aid through the night.

Commander Chen Yuanshan of the Western Long Guard led three thousand cavalry to set a fiery ambush at Broken Dragon Gorge, single-handedly halting the main enemy force.

From then on, the legendary “Iron Whip Chen” became renowned throughout the northern frontier.

After years of fierce battles, the Northern Garrison Army gradually reclaimed lost lands, leading to a stalemate at the Ghost Wailing Plain.

Seeing that a direct assault was futile, the Wolf Rong split into smaller units, dispatching elite scouts to harass supply lines, outposts, and villages.

It was General Chen who petitioned the court, advocating for the strategy of “settlement farming and garrison forts” as a response.

Today, over thirty such forts have been established along the border, including Iron Forest Fort behind Willow Village...

Hearing the village chief’s introduction, Lin Chuan felt a quiet relief.

It seemed he had met a benefactor today.

That the commander himself personally bestowed a token of command was a rare honor.

If he could seize this opportunity, not only would the Zhang family dare not act rashly, but he could also fulfill his ambitions.

...

As dusk settled, Lin Chuan walked home along the cobblestone path.

Passing the low courtyard wall of Yun Niang’s house, he paused.

Through the gaps in the bamboo fence, he saw the faint yellow glow from the kitchen and heard muffled sobbing.

He raised his hand and knocked on the wooden door; the hinges creaked.

Liu Shi, who opened the door, had swollen red eyes. Seeing Lin Chuan, she hurriedly wiped her face with her sleeve.

“Brother Chuan...”

Her voice was hoarse and broken. “Our Liu family... we’re sorry...”

“Aunt, don’t say that.”

Lin Chuan spoke softly. “I’m joining the Iron Forest Fort tomorrow. Today, a general already appointed me as a junior flag officer.”

“A... junior flag officer?”

Liu Shi repeated in confusion, her cracked lips trembling.

The highest official she had ever known was the village chief; she could not imagine what this unfamiliar rank meant.

“It means I can command about ten soldiers.”

Lin Chuan explained, “Once the official documents arrive, even the county office will show some respect. The landlord Zhang won’t dare to provoke me.”

“Re... really?” Liu Shi was doubtful yet hopeful.

“Yes, really.”

Just as he nodded, Liu Shi suddenly cried out.

“Blood! Why are you covered in so much blood?”

The cloth curtain in the inner room was abruptly pulled aside.

Yun Niang rushed out, her shoes half on, her hair loose over her shoulders.

Seeing the dark red stains on Lin Chuan’s collar, her face instantly turned pale.

“What happened?”

Tears brimmed as she spoke.

Lin Chuan’s breath caught.

The frightened girl from last night now stood within arm’s reach.

She was slender; her pale green blouse hung loosely, highlighting her neck’s snowy whiteness.

Her delicate waist trembled softly with each sob.

Both recalled last night—

The entwined fingers beneath the covers, the burning breaths, the suppressed moans.

Yun Niang’s ears flushed crimson as if bleeding.

Lin Chuan’s throat tightened; he averted his gaze awkwardly.

“I’m fine,” Lin Chuan shook his head. “I killed six Tatars today; it’s... their blood.”

“Ah? You killed Tatars?” Liu Shi exclaimed.

“You’re not hurt?” Yun Niang’s only concern was her beloved.

“No, no.”

Though Lin Chuan had come from another world, his heart held an unusual tenderness for Yun Niang.

Perhaps the original owner’s feelings had merged deeply into his bones and blood.

Coupled with last night’s joy, he could not help but cherish the frail girl before him even more.

“What’s this?” Yun Niang grabbed his hand.

A cracked wound between his fingers, the blood already dried.

“You said you weren’t hurt?” Big tears fell like raindrops.

She turned and ran inside, returning shortly with a rough pottery jar.

Inside was a pale green ointment, faintly fragrant with herbs.

“This is Purple Pearl Grass... my father gathered it before he died...”

Her voice was soft as a whisper. She dipped her fingertip into the ointment and gently applied it to Lin Chuan’s wound.

The ointment was cool, but where it touched felt like fire burning.

Liu Shi stood aside, watching her daughter’s focused profile, then suddenly turned away to wipe her eyes.

“I’ll cook you some noodle soup.”

She hurried to the kitchen, deliberately making the iron pot clang loudly.

Only the two remained in the yard.

Moonlight filtered through the osmanthus leaves, casting dappled shadows on Yun Niang’s face.

Lin Chuan noticed tears still clinging to her lashes, trembling softly with her breath.

“Does it hurt?” Yun Niang asked gently.

“No.” Lin Chuan shook his head.

He suddenly pulled some silver coins from his pocket, placing them in Yun Niang’s palm.

“Took these from the Tatars. Go make yourself some new clothes.”

He cursed himself for having so little silver. “When I get my reward tomorrow, I’ll buy you a silver hairpin.”

Yun Niang’s hand trembled violently, almost spilling the coins.

“I don’t want new clothes! I don’t want a silver hairpin!”

She clutched Lin Chuan’s sleeve tightly, her voice trembling with every word. “I only want you... to come back safely...”

Lin Chuan gently closed her fingers over the coins.

“Don’t worry. I will come back safely.”

His voice was soft, yet as sharp as a blade forged in fire. “I’ll deal with landlord Zhang.”

Yun Niang suddenly looked up, tears still lingering on her lashes.

Moonlight sifted through the branches, casting scattered light upon her face.

It also revealed a sudden spark igniting in her eyes.

Her lips trembled as if she wanted to say something.

In the end, she simply nodded firmly.

...

Back home, after soothing his mother, Lin Chuan lay down on the kang.

Outside, moonlight flowed like water, yet he tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

Whenever he closed his eyes, Yun Niang’s image appeared.

Sleep eluded him entirely.

At dawn, he rose, packed his things, and stepped out.

Under the old locust tree at the village entrance, Zhang Xiaonian and Wang Tiezhu had been waiting for a long time.

They had already arranged all the spoils of war—

Leather armor, curved swords, and lime-preserved heads were neatly stacked on the cart.

The battle horses bore various wounds.

Lin Chuan left them in the village, assigning the village chief to arrange special care.

“Brother Lin, everything’s ready!” Zhang Xiaonian patted the cart.

Lin Chuan nodded.

He glanced at the smoke rising from the village, especially at Yun Niang’s low courtyard.

“Let’s go.”

The three set off, stepping on the morning dew.

The wooden axle of the cart creaked.

Iron Forest Fort lay behind the village, no more than ten miles away.

As the morning mist dispersed, the fort’s outline became clear before Lin Chuan’s eyes.

The location was indeed ingenious:

Nestled at a mountain pass between two peaks, it faced the Ghost Wailing Plain to the north—where the Wolf Rong roamed—and overlooked three villages to the south.

At the first sign of enemy activity, smoke signals could be seen for twenty miles around.

But up close, the fort was quite rudimentary.

The walls were built from mountain stones and yellow earth, many sections collapsed and roughly patched with wooden fences and straw.

The beacon towers at the four corners were well maintained, but foul water pooled in the trenches below.

Squinting, Lin Chuan noticed several wooden stakes recently driven outside the west wall, seemingly for expansion.

The timber was uneven, bark still clinging.

Horseshoes in front of the gate were crooked and rusted.

The three pulled the cart to the fort’s entrance.

A young soldier was dozing against the doorway.

Hearing the creak of the cart, he rubbed his eyes and lazily called out,

“Stop! Who goes there?”

Lin Chuan cupped his fists.

“Here to enlist.”

“Enlist? What’s all this?”

“Killed some Tatars yesterday. These are the spoils...”

“What?”

The soldier glanced at the cart’s contents, eyes widening in surprise.

He turned and sprinted into the fort.

“Chief Zhang! Come quick!”