Chapter 4: The smoke of wolves rises, so the country is far away (Part 4)

The man sensed the mocking smile in her eyes and slowly set down the book.

"It seems that my reputation precedes me. The Princess Qingyuan already knows who I am," the man said quietly through the bed curtain, looking at her.

The two sat facing each other, separated by a layer of gauze that seemed to create a gulf between them.

"Suyutian, the war god of Liang Kingdom, the first outsider to be named king. It is said that he was born into a declining noble family, joined the army at thirteen, became a centurion at fifteen, launched a surprise attack on the enemy camp on a snowy night at sixteen, and gained fame in one battle, being appointed as a young general. At eighteen, he achieved his first victory and was appointed as the Tiger Bravery General. After eighteen, he followed the King of Liang to battle in all directions, conquered numerous cities, and made countless military achievements. At the age of twenty-three, he was named an outsider king, and the Liang Emperor bestowed upon him the title 'Lie'," Qingyuan said slowly, her face impassive.

The tent fell silent.

Suddenly, the man burst into laughter. His laughter flowed like mercury, indescribably joyous. At the same time, he abruptly threw back the bed curtain, revealing a proud and peerless handsome face before her.

Qingyuan's eyes narrowed as she gazed fixedly at him above her.

What kind of face was that? She only knew that she couldn't describe it or draw it.

The world knew Suyutian as a man with great power and influence, but they did not know that his appearance was as peerless as his reputation. His beauty rejected the worldly airs, exuding a charm that surpassed all living beings.

His skin was as fair as ivory, with long eyebrows that reached his temples, resembling two swords that instantly cut through all the world's illusions. His eyes were deep and cold, his nose high and straight. His features seemed to have the blood of the Hu people, profound and unforgettable at first sight.

He wore a plain war robe, and his black hair fell casually over his shoulders, emitting a dark blue glow under the dim yellow light.

In the dim light of the tent, his faint smile and the arrogance in his eyes made it impossible for people to look directly at him.

He looked at her with a smile. "I am indeed Suyutian. I saved you, and I am also the man who destroyed your Tang Kingdom."

Qingyuan gazed at him fixedly.

Many years later, when she recalled her entanglement with this man, she couldn't help but think of this night, this moment.

He carried the resolute arrogance of the world, and said so openly, "I am indeed Suyutian. I saved you, and I am also the man who destroyed your Tang Kingdom."

Is there any man in the world like Suyutian?

No, there really isn't.

He was like an unparalleled sword in the world, cutting through the turbidity of this world, suddenly appearing in her life, without room for refusal.

One glance was a lifetime.

...

The tent fell silent.

His gaze was too overbearing, making it seem natural. His domineering air made the air itself stagnate. Qingyuan looked at him coldly as he sat cross-legged on her bed.

Suyutian suddenly smiled, reaching out to lift her delicate chin, his starry black eyes staring at her with interest.

The dim candlelight in the tent flickered. She stared at Suyutian without blinking.

A chaotic world, a general, a beauty—this should have been a picturesque scene. Unfortunately, both of their gazes were too cold, with a hint of hidden hostility.

"Are you the rumored Princess Qingyuan, the one who wins the favor of the heavens and thus the world?" Suyutian asked, his gaze unwavering.

Qingyuan looked directly at him and replied calmly, "Yes."

"Aren't you going to cry?" Suyutian's eyes flashed, suddenly asking.

Since she woke up, she hadn't shown any signs of hysteria or wailing. But it was clear that her royal family's heads were still hanging high on the city wall. Her only younger brother's body lay quietly beneath the city wall.

In just one day and one night, her country was destroyed, her family perished.

The favored by the heavens? What an ironic and delusional title. At this moment, she seemed more like a pitiful woman commonly seen in troubled times.

But now, she seemed as if nothing had happened, smiling at him as if nothing was wrong. After experiencing more than ten years of war, witnessing seas of corpses and mountains of blood, he had to admit that this kind of woman was the first he had ever seen.

Qingyuan smiled faintly. "I will cry, of course. I just wonder if King Lie wants to see me cry or smile."

Suyutian looked at her for a while, then suddenly smiled. "Whether you cry or smile, Princess Qingyuan is always beautiful."

Qingyuan lowered her head and smiled softly.

Yes, she had lost everything, and now all she had left was her good looks.

After saying this, Suyutian stood up and said with a smile, "I heard that you were engaged to Xie Yuming, but I suppose that engagement has been canceled since yesterday."

Qingyuan's expression remained unchanged, but her fingers were deeply embedded in the palm of her hand.

The intense pain couldn't extinguish the deep hatred in her heart.

Xie Yuming, the man she had loved for so many years, the handsome young man who boldly proposed to her at the millennium banquet, had cunningly handed her over to the enemy.

This kind of hatred, perhaps even generations of blood couldn't wash it away. But at this moment, this man in front of her had once again reopened her wound, adding another trace of blood.

He looked at her, his eyes like moonlight, making her unable to feel any resentment. Qingyuan looked at him with disgust, realizing that this man was truly a calamity to the country and the people.

Suyutian's smile deepened. He seemed like a demon crawling out of the abyss as he said, "I'm sure the Tang Emperor in the underworld must be very pleased."

Without thinking, Qingyuan raised her hand and fiercely slapped that infuriatingly handsome face. But the next moment, with a "smack," she felt herself spinning, and the whole person tumbled off the bed.

Her face swelled up with a fiery redness. It turned out that just now, he had struck her with a slap faster and harder than she had, and without a trace of mercy. Qingyuan sprayed a mouthful of blood, and stars danced before her eyes as darkness enveloped her.

The taste of blood filled her mouth as she covered her face and chuckled, "Just kill me! I, Li Luoyao, would rather die than marry that despicable man who destroyed the Tang Dynasty!"

Her scalp tightened as a pair of slender hands effortlessly lifted her up.

Suyutian's smile was as charming as ever, but it sent chills down to the marrow.

He chuckled lightly, "Why can't the princess keep up the act? Wasn't it good just now? A smile that can enchant a hundred men, making every man in the world wish to live and die for the princess. If the princess could keep up the act, even I, the king, would almost be deceived. How could the princess reveal her true colors so quickly when it comes to marrying the emperor?"

Qingyuan gritted her teeth in silence, her expression of humiliation gradually climbing up her eyes like ice and snow.

"To the victor belong the spoils. The princess should know what price she should pay to survive," he said nonchalantly, as if it were an ordinary matter.

"Dream on..." Qingyuan sneered, "Everyone says that the fierce king is a great warrior, towering above all, but it turns out he's just a dog raised by the Liang Emperor!"

She emphasized the last word with a mocking tone.

Suyutian stared at her stubborn face without blinking. Suddenly, he laughed, "Yes, you are the bird in the sky, and I am the hound on the ground. You and I are just birds and beasts, a perfect match."