The General Says She Won't Marry - Chapter 27 Part 2

The twenty-thousand-strong army marched swiftly for two hours. After plundering enough supplies, the barbarian forces that had raided Yong’an learned about the battle in Poyan and that reinforcements from Xingbei Pass had arrived. Without lingering any longer, they withdrew completely before Yang Jin and his troops could reach them.

When Yang Jin led his army into Yong’an, the scene before him was nothing short of a living hell.

The barbarians had slaughtered, looted, and burned with ruthless cruelty. The entire town was shrouded in the stench of blood, with bodies strewn everywhere. Anything they couldn’t take with them had been set ablaze, reducing the town to a pile of collapsed ruins. At first glance, not a single living person could be seen.

Upon witnessing the scene, Lin Aoxue felt as if her vision darkened. Her chest tightened painfully, as though a massive weight was crushing her, making it hard to breathe. She clenched her teeth and took several deep breaths, but all she inhaled was the foul stench of blood and smoke.

Yang Jin’s expression was equally grim. He immediately ordered his men to search the entire town for any survivors. After a stick of incense’s time, news came back—out of the entire town, fewer than three hundred people had survived.

When the soldiers reported the casualty numbers, Yang Jin staggered, his face turning pale. Overcome with rage and grief, he nearly fainted on the spot. Fortunately, a quick-witted subordinate caught him just in time, preventing him from collapsing in front of everyone.

Lin Aoxue, her expression dark, scanned the gathered survivors. Suddenly, she caught sight of a familiar figure. Her gaze sharpened, and she strode forward quickly. 

“Auntie! Do you remember me?”

The woman, still shaken with fear, was startled by the sudden approach of a soldier. But upon getting a closer look, recognition flashed across her face. A mixture of joy and relief filled her tear-rimmed eyes.

“Oh my, it’s you, young Lin…”

She grasped Lin Aoxue’s arm, her tears welling up even more, though her throat was too choked with emotion to speak clearly. Seeing her like this, Lin Aoxue’s heart sank, and a terrible premonition surged within her. Panic tightened her chest as she anxiously asked, “Auntie, have you seen Doctor Yun recently? Did she come to Yong’an?”

The moment she spoke, her heart pounded violently. The fragile organ felt as if it would be crushed under the unbearable weight of fear. Her fists clenched tightly, cold sweat seeping from her palms. She both longed to hear news of Yun Yan and dreaded the possibility of her name being among the dead.

Holding her breath, Lin Aoxue tried to remain composed, but her racing heartbeat betrayed her.

The woman’s tears fell like a string of broken pearls, pattering against Lin Aoxue’s hand, each drop as heavy as lead. Lin Aoxue felt her body grow colder, her clothes already damp with sweat.

After what felt like an eternity, the woman finally managed to catch her breath. She gripped Lin Aoxue’s arm tightly, her voice filled with urgency, “You must save Doctor Yun, young Lin! The barbarians took all the town’s doctors!”

As soon as the words fell, Lin Aoxue’s eyes widened in shock. Her irises burned red, streaked with bloodshot veins, and she nearly burst into tears. But at the last moment, she forced the emotion down, taking a deep breath to steady herself before pressing on, “Auntie, don’t panic. When were they taken? Which direction did they go?”

For a brief moment, her body felt weak and unsteady. The terror she felt was identical to the agony of losing her loved ones over a decade ago. She had never realized how much Yun Yan’s fate mattered to her until this moment.

Her voice came out hoarse, so much so that even she doubted whether it was truly hers—it sounded like someone on the verge of breaking.

“They went north! The escorting troops left not long ago, maybe half an hour.”

Lin Aoxue clenched her fists tightly and pressed for more details about the number of soldiers. The woman answered seriously, and Lin Aoxue immediately took the information to Yang Jin.

Upon hearing that a force of around one hundred soldiers had taken the town’s doctors northward only half an hour earlier, Yang Jin hesitated briefly. Then, he turned to Lin Aoxue. Seeing the storm raging in her eyes, his brows furrowed deeply, and he asked solemnly, “You want to go after them?”

Lin Aoxue met his gaze head-on, her voice steady and unwavering. “Yes.”

Yang Jin continued, “Do you realize that ahead of those hundred soldiers is a barbarian force of over five thousand? Even if you catch up, there’s no guarantee you’ll be able to rescue anyone. In fact, you might just get yourself killed.”

Lin Aoxue’s expression remained unchanged, her determination unshaken as she stubbornly declared, “Field Marshal, the barbarians took our doctors—they must want them to treat their wounded. Those doctors are also citizens of this town. If we don’t try to save them, it will only dishearten the people!”

Yang Jin shot her a glare. “Don’t give me that noble speech. I know exactly what you’re really after!”

Lin Aoxue pressed her lips together and remained silent. Yang Jin lifted his gaze northward, pondering for a long while before finally making a difficult decision.

“I’ll give you one hundred men. Not one less. If you fail to bring them all back, don’t even bother returning!”

Though stunned, Lin Aoxue was overjoyed and thanked Yang Jin repeatedly before quickly selecting one hundred light cavalrymen. Without delay, they departed from the northern road, pursuing the enemy at full speed. She did not bring Lu Sheng along—his leg had been injured in a previous battle, and though he had already pushed himself to join this one, forcing him to ride could lead to further accidents.

***

The barbarians had ravaged Yong’an, plundering and destroying as much as possible. Their vanguard had already set off with the looted grain, while a rear guard of about a hundred men remained to set fires and cover their retreat. They were also responsible for escorting the captured doctors back into barbarian territory.

Their pace was not hurried. They were well aware of the temperament of the Xingbei Pass troops—Yong’an had been utterly destroyed, and risking thousands of soldiers just to reclaim supplies was not a price Xingbei Pass would be willing to pay. Thus, the barbarians withdrew confidently, certain that Yang Jin would not pursue them.

Lin Aoxue led her hundred cavalrymen in pursuit for half an hour before finally spotting the barbarian escort unit. The prisoners were walking on foot, their hands bound with hemp rope and strung together in a line, being pulled along as they marched.

Lin Aoxue rode at the forefront, and with a single glance, she spotted Yun Yan’s frail and delicate silhouette among the captives. Her eyes instantly turned red with emotion, and a surge of rage welled up within her. 

She bellowed, “Kill!”

***

Among the barbarian ranks, Yun Yan kept her head lowered. Her hands were tied behind her back as she trudged forward, step by step. Yet, her expression was calm—unshaken. A closer look would reveal her hands subtly shifting, sprinkling a fine, unknown powder from her sleeves as she walked.

She was calculating the time until rescue arrived. Even though she had fallen into enemy hands, she remained composed, moving with practiced ease. She understood her own value; those behind her would not easily abandon her. Even if, because of her own personal misstep, she had made a small but costly mistake.

The moment Lin Aoxue’s voice rang out from behind, Yun Yan’s steps faltered for an instant. Then, she spun around in shock, staring in disbelief at the figure charging forward on horseback.

Lin Aoxue, armed with a silver spear, was cutting through the barbarian ranks like a storm.

The sight left Yun Yan utterly stunned.

Draped in black leather armor, Lin Aoxue was like a bolt of lightning, tearing through the enemy lines with unstoppable force. As she reached Yun Yan, her silver spear spun deftly, striking down the barbarians who attempted to block her. In one swift motion, she severed the ropes binding Yun Yan’s wrists, then remained atop her horse, extending a hand downward.

The sunlight behind Lin Aoxue cast a golden glow around her figure, outlining her in a brilliant halo. At that moment, she seemed invincible—a warrior god who could overcome anything. To Yun Yan, she brought a surge of courage and an unprecedented sense of hope.

“Get on the horse,” Lin Aoxue commanded, her voice filled with exhilaration.

A nameless emotion surged through Yun Yan’s chest, filling her with an overwhelming sense of strength, as if she could now withstand any hardship. Lin Aoxue stood before her like an unyielding shield, blocking all danger, yet at the same time, she was a piercing spear that struck down anyone who sought to harm her.

Yun Yan knew she would be rescued. She had never doubted that.

But she had never expected that the one to come for her would be Lin Aoxue.

Lin Aoxue was stationed far away at Xingbei Pass. Even though it wasn’t too distant from Yong’an, the tides of war were unpredictable. She was merely a baihu—a low-ranking officer whose words carried little weight. When battle broke out, she was meant to move only with the army, unable to act on her own, let alone mount a personal rescue.

Furthermore, like the barbarians, Yun Yan had assumed that once the soldiers of Xingbei Pass arrived at the ruins of Yong’an, they would find the enemy already gone. Aware of the risks, Xingbei’s commanders would surely hesitate to give chase.

But Lin Aoxue had shattered all those expectations.

Defying orders, breaking through the chains of military protocol, she had charged in—unyielding, fearless, and with an unwavering determination. She had brought hope to Yun Yan in a way she had never imagined, dragging her from the depths of darkness and despair.

Without thinking, Yun Yan reached out.

Her fingers intertwined with Lin Aoxue’s, grasping tightly.

With that connection, she felt an undeniable strength pull her forward. Using the force from Lin Aoxue’s arm, she leapt onto the horse, settling firmly in front of her rescuer.

This wasn’t the first time she had ridden with Lin Aoxue, but this time, her heart was pounding wildly in a completely different way. The rapid beats echoed in her chest, making the warmth of Lin Aoxue’s presence behind her feel almost scorching.

“Hold on tight,” the low and steady voice whispered into her ear.

Lin Aoxue freed one hand and firmly wrapped it around Yun Yan’s waist, securing her in place to prevent her from falling. Her other hand gripped the silver spear tightly, sweeping it in deadly arcs, cutting down every enemy that dared to approach.

The barbarian escort unit, being on foot, stood no chance against the cavalry. Realizing their disadvantage, some of the barbarians turned their blades toward the captive doctors, intending to slaughter them before retreating. But Lin Aoxue had anticipated this move. She was the first to charge in, scattering their formation before they could act.

Her cavalrymen followed closely behind, prioritizing the rescue before turning their full force on the enemy. Without hesitation, they struck down the barbarians left and right.

Some of the enemy soldiers, seeing the situation turn against them, attempted to flee. Lin Aoxue narrowed her eyes, a cold smile playing on her lips.

With Yun Yan secured in her grasp, she spurred her horse forward, swiftly closing the distance. With one decisive thrust, her spear impaled an escaping barbarian, pinning him to the ground.

The battle was over within moments. Not a single one of the hundred barbarians was left alive.

Lin Aoxue and her men swiftly cleared the battlefield. But even as the dust settled, she could already hear the distant thunder of hooves.

The barbarian main force wasn’t far off. They had noticed the disturbance in their rear and were now charging toward them at full speed. If they delayed any longer, they would all be wiped out.

Lin Aoxue curled her lips into a cold smile. Her goal was only to rescue the hostages, not to engage in a direct battle with the barbarians. Without hesitation, she ordered a retreat. The hundred cavalrymen obeyed without question, following Lin Aoxue as they galloped away at full speed.

Yun Yan was held tightly in Lin Aoxue’s arms. The horse ran fast, much faster than when they had ridden together last time, yet she didn’t feel the jolting motion. Instead, she felt a kind of exhilarating freedom, as if she were racing through the vast wilderness.

Even as the biting cold wind howled past her ears, disrupting her senses, she could still clearly feel Lin Aoxue’s warm breath and see the unwavering determination in her expression. Their racing heartbeats seemed to merge into one, indistinguishable from each other.

She didn’t know exactly what Lin Aoxue had brought into her life, but at this moment, she felt a surge of immense courage and an unshakable resolve. It was as if everything in her past had been given new meaning—every dark moment, every unspoken pain had its rightful place and purpose.

An unexpected urge to laugh rose within her. She no longer wanted to remain calm, no longer wished to listen to the so-called rational voices around her. She only wanted to follow her heart. She believed that the person holding her was someone truly unique—someone unlike any other.

Lin Aoxue continued galloping with Yun Yan in her arms until Yong’an Town came into view in the distance. Only then did she slow the horse’s pace. It was only at that moment that she realized how tightly she had been holding Yun Yan the entire way, never loosening her grip.

Now that the danger had passed, a different kind of tension took over. Feeling flustered, she quickly let go and slowed the horse further. Clearing her throat in an attempt to sound natural, she asked, “Cough! Yan’er, are you okay? Did you get hurt?” Yun Yan furrowed her brows in silence. Though Lin Aoxue couldn’t see her expression, she could sense the quiet tension in her demeanor, which made her panic even more. She quickly pressed on, “What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”

Could Yun Yan have been injured during the chaos earlier?

“Mm.”

A soft, almost inaudible hum reached Lin Aoxue’s ears, instantly making her face turn pale. She immediately pulled the reins, bringing the horse to a stop by the roadside. She signaled for the rest of the team to continue ahead, then turned anxiously to grab Yun Yan’s arm, asking in a hurried voice, “What happened? Where are you hurt? Is it serious?”

Lin Aoxue was beside herself with worry, even more distressed than if she had been wounded herself. Yun Yan lifted her gaze slightly and glanced at her before suddenly taking Lin Aoxue’s hand and pressing it against her chest.

“Here,” she said.

Lin Aoxue didn’t suspect anything. Earnestly trying to check Yun Yan’s injury, she even gave the spot a couple of careful squeezes. But she quickly grew puzzled, blinking in confusion. “How did you get hurt here? There’s no blood…”

A rare flush appeared on Yun Yan’s fair cheeks. She arched a brow, leaned in closer to Lin Aoxue, and lowered her voice. “It’s my heart that’s hurt. You only remembered to ask me after we rode all this way—of course I’m wounded!”

Her eyes shimmered with a soft, misty glow. She was so close that her warm breath brushed against Lin Aoxue’s face, making her momentarily freeze. It felt as if her mind had gone completely blank.

For a long moment, Lin Aoxue was caught in a tangle of emotions, debating whether Yun Yan’s words were serious or just teasing. She began to suspect that she might go down in history as the first person to die purely from excessive nervousness.

But just as she was struggling to untangle her thoughts, Yun Yan suddenly leaned back, her face breaking into a bright smile. She reached out and gently tapped Lin Aoxue’s forehead, laughing softly. “What are you daydreaming about?”

Lin Aoxue’s face burned. Her hand, as if struck by lightning, jerked back—but the lingering warmth on her palm left her unsure of where to put it. Flustered beyond words, she awkwardly tucked her hands behind her back, forcing an uneasy smile. “N-no, nothing… Sorry, that was my oversight.” Her tongue felt like it was in knots, and it took a great deal of effort just to form a coherent sentence.

Yun Yan, amused by her reaction, giggled melodiously. There wasn’t the slightest trace of post-battle tension in her demeanor. She turned back to Lin Aoxue, her eyes sparkling with laughter, and playfully chided, “You saved me, and I haven’t even had the chance to thank you. Why are you apologizing first? You’re such a fool.”

Lin Aoxue didn’t argue. She pressed her lips together, avoiding Yun Yan’s gaze. “I said I would protect you. You don’t need to thank me.”

Just like before, Yun Yan rested her head on Lin Aoxue’s shoulder, tilted her face up to look at her, and said with a smile, “But I’ve left the military camp now. I’m not a military doctor anymore.”

Lin Aoxue’s body stiffened. Although she didn’t shy away from Yun Yan’s closeness, her back remained perfectly straight.

“No matter where you are or what your identity is, it’s all the same.” Lin Aoxue spoke without hesitation, her gaze fixed ahead, her tone calm and steady.

The smile on Yun Yan’s face froze slightly before slowly fading. She gazed at Lin Aoxue’s profile, taking in the soft yet refined contours of her face, and suddenly found herself momentarily lost in thought. After a brief pause, she asked again, “Do you really mean that?”

Lin Aoxue didn’t think much of the question and didn’t notice anything unusual in Yun Yan’s tone. Pressing her lips together briefly, she continued riding forward. Her soft lips parted, and with all the gentleness she could offer, Lin Aoxue gave Yun Yan an unexpected promise.

“I do.”

After a short silence, a warm smile blossomed on Yun Yan’s face. She suddenly lifted a hand and, through the mask covering Lin Aoxue’s face, lightly touched her cheek. When Lin Aoxue lowered her gaze in confusion, Yun Yan withdrew her hand, smiled softly, and said, “Since you said it, then I’ll believe you.”