Thousand Miles of Bright Moonlight - Chapter 152.1
The yaksha mask was grotesque and ferocious, its round eyes bulging with menace. In the dim light, it appeared all the more sinister, like a vengeful ghost risen from the depths of the earth to claim lives.
To wake in the dead of night and find such a figure standing silently at one’s window, anyone faint of heart would have been scared half to death.
Yaoying, however, remained relatively composed. She had only dropped a clay bowl and hadn’t screamed.
Because the moment she saw the yaksha mask, she had already guessed that the person at her window was most likely Sultan Gu.
It wasn’t the first time.
…
On the journey to Gaochang, whenever they spent the night at a roadside inn, Sultan Gu’s room was always close to Yaoying’s.
He kept to himself, never stepping outside, utterly silent. She could hardly sense his presence until, one night, when she got up to relieve herself and accidentally knocked over the brazier, making a loud crash. Xie Qing hurried over to help her tidy the mess. When she opened the door to air the room, she caught a glimpse of a tall figure flashing past the corridor.
Yaoying kept her composure.
From then on, she began to quietly observe Sultan Gu throughout the journey.
Sometimes, when they had no choice but to sleep under the open sky, she would lie down fully clothed by the campfire, while Sultan Gu always stayed apart from the others. Half-awake in the chill of dawn, she would often find him sitting far off, never resting, keeping watch through the long night.
Several times, Yaoying was awakened by the cold, hugging her arms tightly and shivering. Not wanting to wake Xie Qing, she sat silently, listening to the howling wind. Her thoughts drifted to how far she was from the Central Plains, wondering how her elder brother was faring. Inevitably, her heart felt heavy. Yet when her eyes fell on Sultan Gu’s solitary figure, seated alone away from the group, her unease gradually settled.
Beneath the vast sweep of stars, amidst desolate wilderness, towering snow peaks and deep ravines, with heaven and earth stretching boundlessly. this man sat there like an unshakable mountain.
He bore all the hardship and danger on his own shoulders. With him here, she knew this party would safely return to the royal court.
That sense of steadfast security, Yaoying had felt it once before.
It was when the snowy white banner embroidered with golden patterns billowed fiercely in the wind, and when Tumoroga, astride a white horse, led tens of thousands of soldiers across the endless desert and stony wastes.
That was why Yaoying did not fear Sultan Gu.
Tumoroga, though cold and aloof, still possessed gentleness.
Sultan Gu looked fierce and terrifying, but within his every move there lingered a kind of deep, weighty compassion. It was simply that this compassion was too sharp-edged—its icy blade concealed any trace of mercy.
…
Earlier, when they checked into the inn, Sultan Gu had taken the room right next to Yaoying’s.
She must have cried out in her nightmare just now, and he, hearing the disturbance, had come to check on her, thinking something had happened.
That meant he had been awake all night.
Yaoying, having guessed the figure was Sultan Gu, calmed down quickly. She hadn’t expected him to return, though. Getting up to try to startle him, she had ended up being caught herself. She smiled awkwardly.
Sultan Gu stood there, silent as ever, his gaze cold and impassive, offering no explanation.
Yaoying wasn’t intimidated by his detached expression. She leaned halfway out of the window, her long dark hair cascading down, her eyes curved in a smile, bright as stars, and asked softly, “General Su, did the Master send you to escort us to Gaochang because of me?”
Sultan Gu remained completely still.
Yaoying looked straight into his turquoise eyes and continued herself, “It was originally supposed to be General Ashina accompanying me to Gaochang. But unfortunately, he was injured. Did the Master worry that Haidu Aling might suddenly appear?”
Bisha had failed to outwit Haidu Aling and ended up injured himself. Tumoroga had sent Sultan Gu, who had failed in his previous mission, to replace Bisha on this journey, most likely as a precaution against Haidu Aling. After all, Haidu Aling’s martial skills far surpassed any of the guards. They wouldn’t stand a chance against him.
Yaoying considered another possibility: the reason Tumoroga’s falcon had been following them all this time wasn’t just to relay messages, as Yuanjue claimed, but to search for Haidu Aling’s white falcon.
Tumoroga had already made a public declaration. Haidu Aling wouldn’t dare act against her openly now. But since they couldn’t reveal their identities on this mission, what if Haidu Aling learned of their movements? Would he seize the opportunity to capture her?
The sudden appearance of the Northern Rong’s young prince, Jin Bo, in Gaochang made it all the more likely that Haidu Aling was nearby.
That was why Sultan Gu couldn’t afford to let his guard down.
Yaoying stared fixedly at Sultan Gu, pressing further, “General Su, is Haidu Aling following us? Is the General afraid of scaring me, therefore you hide it?”
At last, a flicker of response stirred in those deep turquoise eyes, a faint glimmer of surprise.
Yaoying sighed. “General can tell me the truth. With you here, I’m not afraid.”
She leaned against the window frame, her thick black hair tumbling over her shoulders, her skin snowy white in contrast, her eyes clear and luminous.
The rowdy young prince had finally quieted down. The inn was now hushed, as still as water. Their rooms were in the farthest corner, with their guards outside deep in slumber—everything was utterly silent, every sound clear as a pin drop.
Sultan Gu remained silent for a while before his hoarse voice finally broke the stillness: “Jin Bo has come to Gaochang. Haidu Aling might appear as well. But for now, I haven’t seen any trace of him.”
Yaoying smiled gently. “General, you’ve worked hard on this journey.”
Sure enough, he had been silently protecting her all along.
Sultan Gu averted his gaze and said, “Princess, please get some rest.”
Without waiting for Yaoying’s reply, his hands wearing black leather gloves quietly closed the window.
All that remained before her eyes was the dull-grey lattice of the window frame.
Yaoying shook her head with a soft laugh and, with a rustle, pushed the window open again.
“General Su,” she called softly, “I’d like to ask you something.”
Sultan Gu lowered his gaze to her.