Chapter 52: Bound by a Thousand Miles, Reunion Yet to Come

The setting sun, resembling gushing blood, dyed the earth in an ominous crimson. The sole surviving guard, dragging his scarred and utterly exhausted body, staggered his way back to the capital.

His garments were in tatters, and the places where sharp blades had pierced him were still oozing blood. The wounds had crusted into dark scabs, only to rupture anew from his desperate, relentless flight.

His face was caked with dust and bloodstains, yet his eyes alone still burned with the resolute determination of one who had returned from the jaws of death.

"Your... Your Royal Highness..."

The guard collapsed heavily before Li Chengyin, hanging onto his last breath. His voice was trembling and faint as he used his final ounce of strength to deliver the devastating news that struck Li Chengyin like a thunderbolt from a clear sky:

Along the route escorting the Crown Princess, they had fallen into a sinister trap. The Crown Princess was now missing, her fate entirely unknown.

Li Chengyin’s face instantly drained of all color, his eyes gripped by panic and dread.

He paced back and forth on the spot, his inner heart feeling as though it were being consumed by a raging inferno.

"How could such a thing happen? Why were you unable to protect the Crown Princess!"

Li Chengyin roared, his voice trembling slightly with a mixture of fury and overwhelming anxiety.

The guard lowered his head in deep guilt, tears mingling with blood streaming down his cheeks, utterly unable to utter a single word in defense.

Li Chengyin forced himself to regain his composure. He knew all too well that panic was useless at this moment; he had to take action as quickly as possible.

He turned his gaze to Pei Zhao, his eyes carrying an unquestionable, authoritative command:

"Pei Zhao, investigate this thoroughly at once. No matter what, you must unmask the mastermind behind the shadows. I am heading toward the vicinity of Yu County to search for the Crown Princess. She must not come to any harm."

Pei Zhao cupped his fists in acknowledgment, turned swiftly on his heel, and departed to summon men and begin a rigorous, intensive investigation.

Li Chengyin immediately ordered his subordinates to post notices in all the surrounding towns. The bold, powerful brushstrokes on the proclamations read strikingly clear:

Anyone who provided information regarding the whereabouts of the Crown Princess would be rewarded with a hundred taels of gold; anyone capable of finding and returning the Crown Princess would be rewarded with ten million taels of gold, alongside countless cattle and sheep.

This astronomical reward instantly caused a sensation across the region. People eagerly discussed the disappearance of the Crown Princess, and many, tempted by the immense bounty, began paying close attention to any clues around them.

Without a moment to lose, Li Chengyin embarked on the road leading to Yu County.

Riding on horseback, the wind whistled past his ears, yet it could not disperse the gathering storm clouds within his heart.

Xiaofeng’s face continuously surfaced in his mind. He recalled every single moment they had spent together; those past laughs and moments of sweetness had now transformed into an endless well of anxiety.

Along the journey, Li Chengyin traveled day and night, barely closing his eyes.

When one horse collapsed from exhaustion after another, he immediately mounted a fresh steed and pressed onward.

At every post station he passed, he inquired whether anyone had caught sight of the Crown Princess, refusing to let slip even the faintest glimmer of a potential clue.

His eyes were etched with profound fatigue, but even more so with unyielding determination and persistence.

Passing through a small town, he noticed a crowd gathered around a public notice, discussing it animatedly.

A stir arose in Li Chengyin’s heart. He dismounted and approached the crowd, hoping to overhear some useful intelligence.

Someone within the crowd remarked:

"With the Crown Princess missing and nobody knowing where she’s gone, this reward is truly tempting."

Another person chimed in:

"I heard that a batch of suspicious characters was seen lurking around here the other day. Who knows if it has anything to do with this?"

Hearing this, Li Chengyin instantly seized the man by the arm and demanded:

"Where did you see these suspicious characters?"

Startled by Li Chengyin’s imposing aura, the man stammered:

"I... I only heard about it. I have no idea where they actually are."

Though deeply disappointed, Li Chengyin thanked the man and resumed his journey.

Entering the borders of Yu County, Li Chengyin inquired everywhere for news. Stepping into an inn, he called the proprietor over, placed a heavy ingot of silver on the table, and said:

"Innkeeper, I wish to ask if you have seen a young woman recently. She wears exotic attire, and likely has a maidservant accompanying her."

The innkeeper’s eyes lit up at the sight of the silver. Pondering for a moment, he replied:

"Patron, I do believe I saw two such women, though that was several days ago. They seemed to be in a great hurry and were heading toward the eastern side of the county town."

A surge of hope welled up in Li Chengyin’s heart, and he pressed urgently:

"Are you certain? Were there any other details?"

The innkeeper shook his head and said:

"That is all I saw; I know nothing further."

Without a moment’s delay, Li Chengyin galloped toward the eastern side of the county town. He rode at breakneck speed along the road, silently praying in his heart that he would find Xiaofeng soon.

He had no mind to appreciate the scenery along the way; a single thought dominated his entire being:

Find Xiaofeng and bring her home.

As dusk began to settle, Li Chengyin still did not halt his pace.

Suddenly, a light, dreary drizzle began to fall from the sky. The road turned slick and muddy, forcing his horse's pace to slow down.

Yet, ignoring the biting wind and driving rain, Li Chengyin donned a straw raincoat and pressed forward through the downpour.

The rain plastered against his face and blurred his vision, but his gaze remained fixed resolutely ahead.

Finally, at the foot of a secluded mountain, Li Chengyin discovered a trace of a clue.

Fresh footprints marked the muddy ground—footprints that appeared to belong to a woman.

A spark of hope rekindled within Li Chengyin, and he followed the trail of footprints.

As he ventured deeper, he spotted a dilapidated cottage ahead, from which a faint, flickering light emanated.

Cautiously, Li Chengyin approached the cottage, unaware of what awaited him inside.

Reaching the threshold, he took a deep, steadying breath and gently pushed the door open...

Inside that somewhat lonely dwelling, a dim, amber light filtered through the small, dust-caked window, casting a weary glow upon the old man’s wrinkled face. The surrounding silence was broken only by the faint, trickling sound of sand shifting in an old hourglass in the corner.

The old man sat there quietly, his solitary figure casting a forlorn shadow amidst the dim illumination.

Li Chengyin hurried inside with urgent steps, kicking up a slight flurry of dust.

His eyes held a flicker of impatience and eager anticipation, his inner heart as turbulent as a sea swept by a howling gale, refusing to calm.

Ever since parting ways with Xiaofeng, every single moment of waiting had felt like slow torture over burning coals. He lived in dread that the fickle hand of fate would tear Xiaofeng away from him forever.

Without bothering with polite pleasantries, he rushed to ask:

"Elder, have you seen two women? One of them wears crimson robes, spirited and full of life, with eyes that sparkle like stars..."

Before he could finish his description, the old man slowly raised his head. A flash of light instantly ignited in his eyes, like a candle lit in deep darkness, followed by a joyful proclamation:

"Are you that great benefactor? I know of whom you speak. Those two young lasses left two days ago. When I saw them lost and exhausted in these mountains, I had my sons escort them as far as the vicinity of Que County. If you wish to find them, you will likely locate them in Que County."

Hearing this news, it felt as though a massive boulder pressing down on Li Chengyin’s heart had finally dropped, replaced immediately by the swelling tide of impending reunion.

Brilliant fireworks seemed to burst within his soul—a radiance woven of hope and sheer joy.

He paid no heed to the old man’s subsequent words, nor did he pause to ask for further details, terrified that even a momentary delay would cause him to miss Xiaofeng once again.

At this moment, his mind held only Xiaofeng’s every smile and frown, and those memories of the past washed over him like a roaring tide.

He thought to himself how many mistakes he had made in the past, driving Xiaofeng away in sorrow time and time again. This time, no matter what, he would hold onto her tightly and never let go.

His eyes shone with a brilliant mix of shock and joy. With steps as swift as the wind, he thanked the old man, turned on his heel, and set off eagerly toward Que County.

Along the way, burning with anxiety, Li Chengyin rode hard with his torso leaned forward. He gripped the reins tightly, continuously urging his steed to greater speeds.

The horse’s hooves kicked up billowing clouds of dust, flattening the wayside weeds beneath the rushing gale.

The wind whistled past his ears, sounding at once like an urge to hasten and a barrier to block his path.

His eyes were filled with urgency and apprehension, while Xiaofeng’s visage continuously replayed in his mind.

He recalled every fleeting moment spent with her—moments of laughter and moments of strife—which now all transformed into the driving force carrying him forward.

With every single stride of his horse's hooves, he prayed silently within his heart:

"Xiaofeng, you must wait for me in Que County. This time, I will never let you slip away from my side again."

He stared straight ahead at the winding path, the trees on either side blurring into indistinct shadows as he rushed past.

Now, the scorching sunlight beat down upon him mercilessly, soaking his garments with sweat, yet he remained utterly oblivious, wholly devoted to galloping toward Que County. He lived in terror that the next second, fate would play another cruel trick on him, causing him to brush past Xiaofeng and leaving behind only a lifetime of regret and remorse.