Chahar led a squad of cavalry back to the tribe in a grand procession.
Everything in the camp appeared orderly, with no sign of anything unusual.
“Chahar!” Dulan ran out when she heard the commotion.
“Why are you back?”
“The Daye Tribe may launch a surprise attack. I brought men back to reinforce our defenses.” Chahar leaped down from his horse.
“Where’s the princess?”
With such a commotion, there was no way she hadn’t heard him. Was she still busy?
“She…” Tears welled up in Dulan’s eyes, and her voice caught in her throat.
Chahar’s steps halted abruptly.
“What happened?”
“Aming’s condition suddenly worsened. Yanyan went up the mountain to gather herbs.”
“The mountain? She went alone?” Chahar’s heart tightened. With her frail condition, going up the mountain by herself at a time like this—even seeing a snake could scare her unconscious.
“How long has she been gone?”
“Almost six hours now.”
A round trip up the mountain should have taken only two hours on Zhuiyun, his swift horse. Yet Lin Jiayan had been gone far longer than that. Dulan was growing increasingly worried herself. If she didn’t return soon, they would have to send a search party.
Just as Chahar was about to mount his horse, the sound of hoofbeats suddenly echoed from the foot of the mountain.
“It’s Zhuiyun!”
Overjoyed, Dulan thought Lin Jiayan had finally returned.
But when the horse drew closer, they realized there was only a basket full of medicinal herbs strapped to its back. No one was riding it.
Chahar removed the basket. His pupils contracted violently when he noticed the bloodstains on it.
“‘Dog’? Did Yanyan write this?” Dulan stared at the blood-written character in confusion.
“It’s the Daye Tribe. They came down from the mountains.”
The moment Chahar saw the character, he immediately understood what Lin Jiayan was trying to tell him. He instantly gathered a squad of riders and charged toward the mountain.
Night had already fallen.
Chahar rode at the front, clearing the way as the horses thundered onward, their hooves scattering dew in every direction.
Only after the sounds of the Daye Tribe’s horses had faded for a long while did Lin Jiayan cautiously crawl out from the crevice where she had been hiding, stretching her stiff limbs.
It was completely dark now, and she had no horse.
How was she supposed to get back?
She could only hope Zhuiyun had escaped capture. If the horse managed to deliver the message, Dulan would surely send people to find her.
Lin Jiayan blew warm air into her hands and rubbed her arms. The mountain air was bitterly cold, and the temperature had plummeted after sunset.
Her hands and feet were already numb with cold.
As she tugged at her sleeve to cover her exposed wrist, she suddenly noticed a patch of red rash spreading across her forearm.
Earlier, she had assumed it was just a scrape from hiding among the rocks.
But now the rash had clearly spread.
It seemed she hadn’t escaped the epidemic after all—and had likely been infected long ago. Her body was so weak and her circulation so poor that the illness had remained dormant until now.
Fortunately, she had already taken some medicine earlier, allowing her to hold on a little longer.
She adjusted her clothes to cover every patch of exposed skin.
Then, from the corner of her eye, she noticed two green lights appear in the darkness.
A massive wolfhound slowly approached.
Its mouth hung slightly open, exposing rows of sharp fangs, while its glowing green eyes remained fixed on Lin Jiayan.
“Well, well. What’s a little beauty doing all alone in the middle of these mountains?”
A man sat atop a horse, studying her with a sinister smile.
“I’ve never seen you before. Which tribe are you from? You look like you’ve had a rough time.”
Clutching her sleeve tightly, Lin Jiayan gripped the blade she had removed from her herb-gathering sickle.
If they dared come any closer, she would leave him with a scar, even if it cost her life.
“Someone as beautiful as you should come back with me and become my wife.”
The excitement in the man’s voice sent chills down her spine.
“Don’t come any closer.”
Lin Jiayan raised the blade, pointing it at him as she retreated step by step.
The man laughed.
“I like women with spirit. They’re the most enjoyable to tame.”
He licked his lips, already imagining possessing the beauty before him.
“Don’t come any closer…”
Lin Jiayan knew she was no match for him.
There was nowhere left to run, and the wolfhound lurked nearby, waiting.
If she were truly driven into a corner, she would rather slit her own throat than suffer what awaited her.
She wondered if dying here would allow her to return to her original world.
Her resolve hardened.
She pressed the blade against her neck.
“Oh?”
The man moved with lightning speed, striking her wrist with his scabbard.
The blade flew into the grass.
A thin line of blood appeared on Lin Jiayan’s fair neck, crimson droplets trickling down beneath her collar.
“I’ve chosen you, and you still want to die? You don’t know what’s good for you.”
His eyes were as savage as a wild beast.
He grabbed her, hauled her onto his horse, pinned her down against the saddle, and galloped away.
The violent jolting left Lin Jiayan dizzy.
Then, faintly, she heard the thunder of many approaching hooves behind them.
“Damn it! Why is Chahar here?”
The man spat angrily and let out a sharp whistle.
“Retreat! Everyone, retreat!”
Chahar shot forward like an arrow released from its bow, rapidly closing the distance.
“Chaganbala, you’re courting death!”
Murderous intent radiated from Chahar as he swung his blade and cut down the lunging wolfhound.
Hearing Chahar’s voice, Lin Jiayan summoned all her strength and cried out:
“Chahar! I’m here!”
The moment he heard her voice, Chahar’s gaze sharpened.
Accompanied by the crack of his whip and the shrill neigh of his horse, the tip of his blade nearly reached Chaganbala’s mount.
Chahar was too fast.
Burdened with two people, Chaganbala’s horse couldn’t outrun him.
Left with no choice, he shoved Lin Jiayan off the horse.
“My beauty, endure this for now. One day, I’ll come back for you.”
Lin Jiayan fell from the horse like a drifting leaf.
Chahar leaped from his own mount and caught her in his arms.
The two tumbled into the underbrush as Chaganbala rode off with a savage laugh.
“Yanyan! Yanyan! Are you hurt?”
Ignoring the fleeing enemy, Chahar frantically checked her over.
“I’m… I’m fine.”
Her clothes were in disarray, stained with dirt, medicinal juice, and blood.
When Chahar saw the trail of blood on her neck, his eyes reddened with fury.
He removed his outer robe and wrapped it around her before carrying her onto his horse and racing back.
Lin Jiayan had truly reached her limit.
Her vision darkened, and Chahar’s anxious calls became increasingly distant.
Dulan paced anxiously beside Aming.
Cheren had already sorted through the basket of herbs Lin Jiayan had brought back, but without knowing how to prepare or administer them, he dared not act recklessly.
When the rumbling sound of hoofbeats echoed through the camp, Dulan rushed outside.
Lin Jiayan had already fallen unconscious.
Holding her tightly in his arms, Chahar charged into his tent, calling her name over and over.
“Yanyan!”
Seeing her condition, Dulan burst into tears.
There were still things left undone.
She couldn’t fall asleep yet.
Struggling, Lin Jiayan forced her eyes open.
The first thing she saw was Chahar’s face, filled with overwhelming worry.
She closed her eyes briefly, then bit down hard on her tongue.
Sensing something was wrong, Chahar immediately gripped her cheeks and forced her mouth open with his thumb.
Cough… cough…
Choking on the blood in her mouth, Lin Jiayan coughed up bloody foam, regaining a sliver of consciousness.
“Use the juice from the roots and stems… in the medicine…” she gasped between coughs. “After the decoction is finished… grind red halloysite into powder and add it to the soup… administer it with warm water…”
“I understand, Princess Consort.”
Wiping away his tears, Cheren hurried out.
Dulan remained by the bedside, silently weeping.
Seeing her covered in injuries, Chahar felt as though his heart had been shattered.
His eyes brimmed with pain and guilt.
Lowering his head onto her shoulder, his body trembled.
“Chahar…” Lin Jiayan tugged weakly at his loose hair. “Don’t come too close… I’ve caught the epidemic…”
Red rashes covered her exposed wrist.
But Chahar only held her tighter.
“Go to sleep. I’m here.”
Lin Jiayan closed her eyes and finally lost consciousness.