The General Says She Won't Marry - Chapter 43 Part 1

Lin Aoxue gazed into Yun Yan’s eyes, her emotions rising and falling. As Yun Yan spoke, the faint fragrance of her breath brushed against Lin Aoxue’s face, making her unconsciously hold her breath, stunned into silence for a long moment.

“Aoxue?” Yun Yan called softly, trying to bring Lin Aoxue back to her senses.

Lin Aoxue’s face turned red from holding her breath. It took her a while to regain control, and after taking a couple of deep breaths, she gritted her teeth and answered Yun Yan, “Mm.”

“I want you to promise me—you must come back alive. I’ll be waiting for you here. If you’re injured, come find me.”

Her slender, jade-like fingers gently brushed against Lin Aoxue’s ear, her gaze carrying a lingering tenderness. She wished for the person in front of her to stay safe, to stop getting hurt. Though injuries were inevitable on the battlefield, she hoped that no matter what, Lin Aoxue would not lose her life.

She knew she was not yet the reason Lin Aoxue would fight to stay alive, but she still wished that if Lin Aoxue faced danger beyond the border, she would remember her—keep her in her thoughts. No matter when Lin Aoxue returned, she would always have a place to come back to.

Lin Aoxue’s rapidly beating heart gradually calmed. Her gaze met Yun Yan’s, as if staring into an unfathomable, deep pool. The emotions stirring within those eyes resonated within her, igniting the feelings she had long suppressed. It was as if a fire had been kindled in her chest, burning fiercely, boiling over, sending a misty heat rising to her eyes, tinting them red.

“Alright.”

That single word carried the weight of a thousand promises. It surged from the depths of her heart, rising to her throat, and was finally spoken in a hoarse, heavy voice, like the beat of a war drum. Once uttered, it became an unshakable burden on her shoulders—a vow etched into her soul.

Upon hearing the answer she longed for, Yun Yan’s heart trembled. She tightened her arms around Lin Aoxue in a firm embrace. Lin Aoxue stiffened, feeling Yun Yan’s soft, warm body pressed closely against hers. The comforting weight of the embrace stirred something deep within her.

At that moment, she understood—she now had something to hold onto.

She was no longer alone in this vast world. There was someone who would be waiting for her in the small pharmacy at Xingbei Pass, watching from sunrise to sunset, until the day she returned.

Lin Aoxue’s arms, wrapped around Yun Yan’s waist, quietly tightened. For the first time, she responded to Yun Yan’s embrace, silently yet cautiously, opening a small crack in the heavy walls of her heart.

She did not stay long at Yun Yan’s place. Wiping away the dampness at the corners of her eyes, she rose and left, feigning an air of nonchalance. Yun Yan did not see her off—everything that needed to be said had been said. There was no need for lingering sentiments to deepen the sorrow of parting.

***

Back at the military camp, as Lin Aoxue packed her belongings, she found a few small keepsakes among her clothes—a woven bracelet, a jade pendant, and an embroidered pouch.

After much hesitation, she tied the bracelet around her wrist, placed the jade pendant inside the pouch, and tucked it into the pocket over her chest. She brought no extra clothing—if she was to infiltrate the barbarians, she would have to wear their attire. Aside from those small items linked to Yun Yan, she only carried some medicine for wounds and two daggers.

That night, Lin Aoxue went to Beichen Long’s tent once more. Beichen Long was surprised; he had expected her to come the next morning.

He did not ask whether she was ready. Instead, he picked up two portraits from the table—depictions of the two people Lin Aoxue needed to find among the barbarians. One was named Qu Xin, the other Wu Ping.

The barbarian soldiers lived on the vast grasslands, gathering in tribal communities that formed different factions. Each faction was like a small kingdom, with a leader who held power over the group. These small kingdoms constantly waged battles against one another, their conflicts stretching across the grasslands for generations.

The group that often raided the Beichen border for grain and supplies belonged to a large tribe living on the edge of the grasslands, closest to Beichen. The two people Lin Aoxue was tasked with finding had gone to different tribes on the grasslands. As long as she found one of them and brought back the information Beichen Long needed, her mission would be considered complete.

After studying the portraits Beichen Long provided, Lin Aoxue memorized their faces. Beichen Long then explained how she should make contact with them and the secret signals they would use to identify each other. Lin Aoxue committed everything to memory, only leaving his tent deep into the night.

***

The next morning, before dawn, Beichen Long personally escorted Lin Aoxue and her two companions, Tamu and Polo, out of the border pass. To avoid revealing their identities, he arranged for them to leave in an ox cart, ensuring their departure from Xingbei Pass remained unnoticed.

Once outside Xingbei Pass, Tamu and Polo took charge of steering the cart farther away. Inside the cart, Lin Aoxue changed into the clothing they had prepared for her—a set of sheepskin garments. The soft, plush fur provided warmth, but the style was vastly different from that of Beichen.

Removing her mask, Lin Aoxue revealed her face. Tamu and Polo were momentarily stunned before breaking into admiration, calling her a true warrior. Lin Aoxue could only offer a wry smile in response. Polo rummaged through their packs and pulled out a gray felt hat, placing it on Lin Aoxue’s head. The hat had ear flaps that could be lowered to partially conceal the scars on her face.

Next, he handed her a wolf fur neck guard to protect against the wind. With this outfit, she now looked more rugged and unrefined. Lin Aoxue chuckled. “Thank you, brothers!”

Tamu snapped the whip against the ox’s back and laughed. “It’s still early. Why don’t you rest in the cart for a while? We’ll wake you once we take the necessary detour.”

Lin Aoxue shook her head lightly. “I’m fine. I feel well-rested. Why don’t you teach me some of the barbarian language instead?”

She had her own considerations. The journey to the barbarian lands was unpredictable, and she needed to stay alert and familiar with the route. Moreover, though she only had a short time to learn, memorizing a few phrases might prove useful. It was better than knowing nothing at all and being completely lost.

Seeing her eagerness to learn and her humble attitude—along with the fact that she was highly regarded by Grand General Beichen Long—Tamu felt a deep sense of admiration for Lin Aoxue. Smiling, he agreed to her request but then sighed. “The general ordered us to guide you into the grasslands. Beyond that, we don’t know much, but one thing is clear—this journey will be dangerous, and we won’t be able to help you much.”

Lin Aoxue simply laughed. “Tamu-dage, you underestimate your contribution! Teaching me the barbarian language and leading me into the grasslands is already a great help.”

(T/N: -dage means big brother. A more affectionate form than -xiong)

Polo came over and patted Lin Aoxue on the shoulder with a grin. “As the saying goes, young Lin, fate protects those with a good heart. You’ll be just fine!”

Lin Aoxue laughed heartily and nodded. “Well said, Polo-dage!”

Seeing them joke and chat, Tamu gradually put aside his worries. As he drove the ox cart, he and Polo took turns teaching Lin Aoxue simple phrases in the barbarian language.

Lin Aoxue was quick to learn and had a sharp memory. Within half a day, she had already mastered a good number of basic phrases, earning praise from both Tamu and Polo.

By the end of the day, they had reached the edge of the grasslands, where the barbarian lands met Beichen territory. From this point forward, they risked encountering barbarian patrols. Deciding it was best to proceed on foot, they abandoned the cart and unhitched the ox.

Tamu motioned for Lin Aoxue to ride on the ox’s back while he and Polo walked beside her, heading deeper into the vast grasslands.

If they were lucky, they could avoid encountering the army altogether. But if they did run into soldiers, Polo and Tamu could handle the situation, ensuring their escape—though it would mean Lin Aoxue would have to pretend to be a deaf-mute for a while.

Lin Aoxue didn’t mind at all. She couldn’t speak or understand the language anyway—if that didn’t make her a perfect deaf-mute, what would? As long as it kept the barbarian soldiers from getting suspicious, this small deception was hardly a problem for her.

The three of them chose the most remote route along the grassland’s edge, gradually making their way deeper in. Their plan was to first reach the scattered grazing areas where Tamu and Polo lived and then follow the trade routes used by nomadic merchants to penetrate further into the grasslands and locate the tribes where the two undercover agents were hiding.

As long as they could find the right tribe, Lin Aoxue would have a way to sneak in and obtain the necessary intelligence.

The journey started smoothly. Lin Aoxue followed Tamu and Polo as they led the ox on foot, traveling deeper into the grasslands. Whenever they passed a river or lake, they collected fresh water, rested briefly, and then continued forward. At night, they found makeshift shelters, built a fire, and took turns keeping watch. Before dawn, they would set off again.

After two days, they encountered a patrol unit of barbarian soldiers. Polo recognized them as the patrolmen of the Rongwei Tribe, the largest tribe within a hundred-mile radius. He intended to avoid them, but the soldiers intercepted them before they could change course.

Tamu pulled the ox to a stop, and Lin Aoxue followed suit, stepping forward openly, showing no sign of guilt or hesitation.

The patrol soldiers of the Rongwei Tribe glanced over the three of them before speaking in their language, a series of guttural sounds that Lin Aoxue neither understood nor attempted to decipher. She simply maintained a blank, clueless expression the entire time.

Tamu and Polo conversed with the soldiers, seemingly explaining something. After a few exchanges, one of the patrolmen focused his gaze on Lin Aoxue and spoke directly to her. Lin Aoxue tilted her head slightly, blinked, and continued to act as if she didn’t understand a thing.

At that moment, Polo stepped forward and explained in the barbarian tongue that Lin Aoxue had been deaf since birth—unable to speak or hear. Upon hearing this, the soldier’s face twisted in disdain before he impatiently waved them away, instructing them to stay clear of the military encampment.

Relieved, Tamu and Polo quickly bowed to the patrolmen, offering praises and words of flattery in the barbarian language. Their efforts seemed to work, as the soldiers’ mood lightened, and they soon turned away, continuing their patrol in another direction.

Having successfully bluffed their way through, Lin Aoxue and her companions led their ox onward.

By nightfall, they finally arrived at Laishi Slope, where Tamu and Polo lived. Laishi Slope was notorious as the slums of the grasslands. Over seventy percent of its residents were descendants of Beichen women who had been captured by the barbarians and left behind. These people were trapped on the barren plains, unable to return to Beichen and unwelcome among the barbarians.

They were looked down upon everywhere they went, constantly driven away. While the barbarians acknowledged their existence, they refused to allocate them any valuable resources. Instead, they left them with Laishi Slope out of pity, allowing them to barely survive in miserable conditions.

The remaining thirty percent of the residents were elderly or disabled barbarians who could no longer fend for themselves. In the brutal world of the barbarians, where only the strong survived, these individuals were quickly cast aside. Their only option for survival was to seek refuge in Laishi Slope.

Lin Aoxue followed Tamu and Polo into the settlement and arrived at Tamu’s home. Tamu had married a woman who looked like she was from Beichen, and the two had struggled together for years before finally managing to build two wooden houses and a small courtyard, where they kept a few cows and sheep.

This was their entire livelihood. By Laishi Slope’s standards, their level of wealth was considered luxurious.

Tamu tied up the old ox they had brought from Xingbei Pass in the cattle pen. Then, he called for his wife to take out the best cut of lamb from last year’s slaughter and roast it for their guest, Lin Aoxue.

Polo’s home was further north in Laishi Slope, but Tamu invited him to stay the night. Since Polo lived alone and only owned a single calf—one he had already brought over before their journey—there was no issue with him staying.

Before coming here, Lin Aoxue had asked Tamu and Polo why they had gone to Xingbei Pass in the first place.

Tamu had explained that Laishi Slope’s land was far too barren, making it difficult to raise livestock. The barbarians constantly suffered from food shortages, relying primarily on cattle, sheep, and wild hares for sustenance. A family like Tamu’s, with even a few animals, was a rarity in Laishi Slope—there weren’t even five households that could match them.

Tamu had always been diligent, earning the respect of the people of Laishi Slope and being elected as the village chief. He wanted to find a way to improve their living conditions, but no matter how many times he communicated with the people of Rongwei Tribe, he could never make any progress.

Rongwei Tribe was the closest settlement to Laishi Slope. Any farther, and he wouldn’t be able to establish contact at all. This left him at a dead end for a long time.

A few years ago, he left Laishi Slope in search of a better way of life for its people, hoping to find more livable land along the grassland’s border. However, he got lost and accidentally wandered into a village under Beichen’s rule. His sudden arrival caused a panic, and the village guards captured him and sent him to Xingbei Pass.

When General Beichen Long had him interrogated, he discovered that Tamu had no martial skills. So he found a Beichen native who could understand the barbarian language to serve as a translator. Only then did Beichen Long learn about this unknown land within the barbarian territory.

Beichen Long sent scouts to investigate Laishi Slope. After losing several men in the process, he confirmed that Tamu was telling the truth. This piqued his interest, and he began forming a plan.

He promised Tamu that he would send cattle and sheep to Laishi Slope at regular intervals, but in return, Tamu had to swear that if Beichen Long ever needed his help one day, he would not refuse.

From that moment on, Beichen Long had already begun planning for the events of today. He pulled Tamu into his sphere of influence, gradually drawing him toward Beichen without making it obvious.

At first, Beichen Long did not require Tamu to do anything significant—only to maintain contact. Over the years, they developed their own secret means of communication. Tamu also began training his own confidants and learning the Beichen language so he could communicate with Beichen Long more effectively.

As time passed, Tamu saw the benefits of cooperating with Beichen Long. The living conditions in Laishi Slope steadily improved, and the people there no longer had to suffer from hunger and cold. Moreover, since they had never been treated fairly by the barbarians and carried Beichen blood, it was only natural that they gradually began to lean toward Beichen, even developing the desire to return to their ancestral homeland.

It was around this time that Tamu became involved in deeper matters. He took the initiative to offer himself as an informant, staying on the grasslands to provide intelligence and assistance to Beichen Long. In return, he requested that if Beichen Long’s army ever reached Laishi Slope, he would spare its people or allow them to return to Beichen.

Beichen Long agreed to his conditions, which ultimately led to Lin Aoxue’s arrival in Laishi Slope with Tamu and Polo’s help.

After hearing Tamu’s story, Lin Aoxue couldn’t help but feel a sense of admiration. Beichen Long was an ambitious man. Like Beichen He, he viewed things through the lens of personal gain, but there was a key difference—Beichen Long still possessed a sense of humanity. He considered the well-being of the people and sought to achieve his goals in a way that preserved as many lives as possible.

Unlike Beichen He, who would stop at nothing to achieve his ends.

People are inherently contradictory. They have strengths and weaknesses. A good person can still commit evil, and even a villain may have moments of kindness. It is impossible to define a person as purely good or evil.

Beichen Long was such a man. He was selfish, unwilling to sacrifice his son to protect others. Yet at the same time, he was also wise. Perhaps his alliance with Tamu was driven by self-interest, but to maintain goodwill toward a seemingly insignificant Laishi Slope for years without expecting an immediate return was not something an ordinary person could do.

His actions had saved Laishi Slope, which, in a way, could be considered a good deed.

Furthermore, he had guarded Xingbei Pass for decades, protecting the people within its borders. The achievements and responsibilities that came with such a position were not something just anyone could bear.

Dinner that evening was prepared by Tamu’s wife. She retrieved a leg of lamb that had been cured the previous year and roasted it. The group brought out two jugs of liquor and used small knives to slice the roasted lamb straight from the bone as they drank. For Lin Aoxue, this was her first taste of authentic grassland cuisine, and she found it fascinating.

The outer layer of the roasted lamb was crispy and flavorful. Lin Aoxue, new to this environment, found herself drinking more than expected, indulging in the strong liquor and eating until her mouth was greasy with lamb fat.