Ordinary Friends

"Do you know Ping'an?"

Liu Yong froze at the Princess's question.

He did not know Li Ping'an's name.

But he quickly realized that must be the gentleman's name.

"This disgraced officer never had the honor of learning the gentleman's name."

"How did you and Ping'an meet?"

Liu Yong recounted the whole story from beginning to end.

A trace of displeasure plainly crossed Liu Yun's face, and she muttered, "He knows how to help other people, but never thinks of himself."

Liu Yong swallowed, ten thousand horses stampeding through his mind.

This was the ordinary friend the gentleman had mentioned?!

She really was fucking ordinary, all right.

The Princess before him was the future successor to Great Sui's throne.

Had he... just... made it straight into the imperial presence?

Liu Yong was already remarkably composed. The man beside him had long since been scared witless.

Sweat poured down his entire body, and he barely managed to keep himself from trembling.

Not long ago, a camp commander at the frontier had berated them like worthless brats.

They had been framed, their merits stolen by others.

In the end, they had become wandering outlaws, unable to kill the enemy before them or return to the homes they had.

Yet now they had entered the Princess's residence and knelt before the future sovereign.

Life... wasn't this roller coaster a little too thrilling?

Liu Yun took a small sip of tea.

She had just been discussing matters with her advisers when Liu Bi told her someone outside was asking whether anyone in the Princess's residence knew a blind man.

Liu Yun had told Liu Bi to bring them in and hurried out, without even having time for a sip of water.

"The Golden Guard, the Five Army Commandery, the Feathered Forest Army, or the Divine Martial Army. Choose one."

The moment Liu Yun spoke, she offered several central imperial forces with the finest treatment.

Liu Yong hesitated, then knelt on the ground. "This disgraced officer wishes only to kill enemies at the frontier and serve the nation! Please grant my wish, Your Highness."

Liu Yun raised her brows slightly, and the way she looked at Liu Yong changed.

"You do have ambition. Far better than those who occupy their posts and eat for free. Since you want to go to the frontier, go serve under Xiahou Shang."

"General Xiahou!"

Liu Yong was overjoyed.

General Xiahou, one of Great Sui's four great generals, maintained strict discipline, faithfully fulfilled his duties, and was upright and incorruptible.

The soldiers he led would sooner freeze to death than tear down houses, sooner starve than plunder.

It was no exaggeration to call him a model for every person of aspiration in Great Sui.

"This disgraced officer is willing to go!"

After Liu Yong and his companion withdrew, Liu Yun rubbed her aching temples.

Liu Bi stepped forward and carefully massaged them for her.

"Your Highness, if you want to see him, why not simply send someone to find him?"

Liu Yun considered for a moment, then let out a long breath. "Forget it."

Unlike the bustling capital, the desert remained desolate and barren.

It was blisteringly hot, without a breath of wind or a single cloud, only glaring golden sand.

"Hey, how much longer until we get there?"

Pei Zhuxuan asked weakly.

"Probably another three or four days."

Li Ping'an did not turn his head.

As they walked, a sudden burst of urgent hoofbeats came from the northeast.

Wind howled around the riders, whose panicked expressions made them look as though wolves were chasing them.

Behind them, something was coming this way at tremendous speed.

Concealed by the dust, it was impossible to make out what it was.

"Hey! What's that?" Pei Zhuxuan exclaimed in alarm.

Li Ping'an swung onto Old Ox's back.

Whatever it was, run first.

"Go!"

Pei Zhuxuan slapped Old Ox's rump.

Old Ox: ...

Was that polite?

"Boss, there are people ahead!"

These men belonged to a mercenary company. They had been searching for treasure in the desert when they unexpectedly encountered the desert's Corpse Ghoul Army.

The Corpse Ghoul Army was a special kind of desert monster, impervious to blades and spears and extremely difficult to deal with.

"Let them take the blows for us."

"That fellow seems to be riding an ox?"

The men stared wide-eyed, afraid they had seen wrong.

"His rotten luck. Catch up to him."

"Hyah! Hyah!"

They raised their whips and picked up speed.

Yet no matter how hard they chased,

they could never catch the figure ahead. Instead, the gap only grew wider.

Before long, they probably would not even be able to see his shadow.

"Boss, something's wrong. That fellow's too fast."

"Damn it, I'll shoot him down."

One of them drew his bow and nocked an arrow on horseback.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

"Those bastards will have sons born without assholes!" Pei Zhuxuan cursed furiously.

Li Ping'an ignored them and pressed on.

Old Ox picked up speed yet again, continuing onward and leaving the men far behind.

"Ahead! Ahead!"

Pei Zhuxuan's expression changed.

Dust billowed across the desert ahead, carrying a foul, bloody stench.

A densely packed Corpse Ghoul Army was already charging straight toward them beneath the cover of the dust.

Li Ping'an said, "Hold on tight!"

Even many years later, Pei Zhuxuan could not forget that sight.

A yellow dragon rose in the distance, its roar like an ox's bellow, piercing the heavens.

Hidden beneath that yellow dragon were countless corpse ghouls. Some were only the size of infants, while others were as large as fierce tigers.

Some raised their heads and flicked their tongues, as though about to devour the sky.

Others bared their fangs and brandished their claws, looking ready to pick someone out and devour them.

Yet one man acted as though he saw none of it.

Amid that mountain of corpses and sea of blood, he was as calm as if he had just woken up at home.

Pei Zhuxuan gazed at Li Ping'an's pale eyes. They seemed like a bottomless pool of stagnant water, yet also like a field of cold stars.

Deep and distant, they gave an unfathomable impression.

Pei Zhuxuan could not help laughing and shouted, "You're so fucking good at putting on an act!"

A long while later, the two successfully escaped the tiger's jaws.

"Hey! What do you want to do in the future?"

Pei Zhuxuan lay on a sheet of sheepskin, gazing at the bright night sky.

Li Ping'an said mildly, "Make money, drink, eat good food, and keep living well."

"That's it?"

"That's it."

"Pfft." Pei Zhuxuan scoffed. "Don't you have any grander ambitions? Even if you don't accomplish great deeds or become a king or overlord, you should at least marry a few wives and buy a few big houses."

Li Ping'an patiently brushed the sand off Old Ox as he spoke without lifting his head.

"After wandering for more than twenty years, perhaps my greatest wish is simply to have a home."

A complicated look flickered through Pei Zhuxuan's eyes as she watched the moonlight stream in.

She opened her palm, watching the dancing light rise and fall like a bird.

"I used to have a home too."

She murmured softly.

Li Ping'an did not answer. It was unclear whether he had not heard or had deliberately chosen not to reply.

The two fell silent again.

After a while, Li Ping'an suddenly spoke.

"This world is always like this. Some people haven't a penny to their names; others have lost the ones they love.

For some, simply staying alive takes everything they have.

Even after ten thousand hardships, this human world is still worth it!

We don't have long left, and time rushes by. May we cherish the present and love ourselves well."

Pei Zhuxuan blinked her bright eyes, seemingly moved, though what she said was,

"Well, who would've guessed? You've got a whole string of pretty sayings."

Li Ping'an fell silent again.