August 17th, Seventh Year of Xuanhe, the sun was high up, slightly dispersing the chill on the earth.

Chen Mo and his party had already penetrated deep into the heart of Yu State. Along the way, it could be said that everything went too smoothly; to say the momentum was unstoppable would not be an exaggeration.

Under Yuan Youchun's command, the Tiger Swift Army plundered large quantities of wealth, food, and even women. The series of victories had utterly relaxed their last bit of vigilance, making them believe the official army of Yu State was as worthless as the ones they dealt with in the Northern Land before.

However, the current situation indeed appeared to be the same. The county cities along the way, the soldiers inside were like startled birds, immediately fleeing upon seeing the army approaching.

The Tiger Swift Army burst into laughter at the sight, mocking the soldiers for being a bunch of gutless cowards.

Another city was captured that morning, and as before, the soldiers had already fled. Since it was a small town, there weren't many people, so even the civilians nearly all evacuated.

The city walls were dilapidated and looked uneven, full of gaps.

When the Tiger Swift Army entered the city, they started cursing, as besides the elders who couldn't move, there was no one else to be seen, leaving nothing to plunder.

Truly disappointing.

To the Tiger Swift Army, they expected another feast of revelry.

...

Due to the swift assault along the way, both armies took a rest in this ruined city.

A relatively intact courtyard was turned into a command post by Chen Mo.

Sun Meng and other personal soldiers gathered in pairs and threes, eating lunch, while another team patrolled outside the courtyard.

In the backyard, Chen Mo was bare-chested, his arm muscles bulging, the Twelve Stones strong bow fully drawn, making soft "ka-ka" sounds. As his hand released, the arrow on the string shot out swiftly, erupting with an ear-piercing gust sound.

Almost in the blink of an eye, a hundred paces away, not exceeding one hundred and twenty paces, a stump of a dead locust tree burst open with a "bang," wood chips flying.

Watching from the side, Xia Zhining's and Liu Ze's pupils slightly contracted.

They just witnessed the arrow graze past the stump's side, then suddenly turned around and exploded the stump.

This arrow can actually curve?

[Archery attempts +1, Cloud-Chasing Arrow experience +1.]

[Name: Chen Mo.]

[Age: 17.]

[Cultivation Technique: Purple Sun Transformation Skill (Proficiency 4475.3/10000).]

[Realm: Qi Absorption (Fifth Grade).]

[Power: 712+76.]

[Skills: Great Sun Qi Slash (Basic 1030086/5000000), Cloud-Chasing Arrow (Advanced 13221/200000).]

Even though the Cloud-Chasing Arrow is intermediate, the additional power exceeds the perfection of the Demon-breaking Saber Technique.

Chen Mo had some speculation that when reaching the advanced Cloud-Chasing Arrow, the additional power alone could exceed a hundred.

Chen Mo put down the strong bow, and Liu Ze immediately trotted over to take it.

Chen Mo picked up the clothes beside him, about to put them on himself when he thought of something, and glanced at Xia Zhining with the corner of his eye: "Zhi Ning, come help me with the clothes."

Xia Zhining paused, her delicate body trembling slightly, her heart surprisingly welled up with a hint of sweetness, because this bastard finally called her Zhi Ning again after nearly a month.

"Can't you dress yourself?" Although saying this, Xia Zhining stepped forward, handed the sword to Liu Ze, then took the clothes from Chen Mo's hands and began dressing him.

Liu Ze saw the opportunity and retreated.

It was just a close-fitting plain white garment, to be armored later, so it was easy to wear.

As Xia Zhining tightened the clothes for Chen Mo, he seized her into his arms, looked at the blushing beauty, and softly said: "Why, if I don't take the initiative to call you, do you plan to keep ignoring me?"

Xia Zhining symbolically struggled, her jade face ashamed and annoyed, angrily said: "You... let go of me, clearly it was you, this bastard, who ignored me, how come it turned into me ignoring you?"

"Think carefully, if I had ignored you, could you have advanced? Also, this leather armor on you, I gave it to you; I had you follow me closely, is this called ignoring you?" Chen Mo showed some irritation.

Xia Zhining: "..."

You call this caring?

The thoughts of women are, after all, different from men.

Previously, Chen Mo's cold attitude towards her made Xia Zhining somewhat uneasy, yet she could still sense the concern.

However, given Xia Zhining's character, even if she knew she was wrong, she would absolutely not admit it.

"So what, you care about me, does that mean I have to care about you too? You're just being overly sentimental." Xia Zhining sneered.

"Is it your turn to piss me off now?" Chen Mo released Xia Zhining's waist, pulled her hand over, the gold ring that was originally on her middle finger was now on her ring finger, and he said in a low voice:

"What about this ring? Can't you listen to your heart for once? Is it really that hard to admit you like me?"

"Don't touch me?" Xia Zhining shot a cold glare at Chen Mo, trying to break free from his hand; her heartbeat quickened, because his words made her guilty, but she couldn't shake free, and could only let him hold her delicate hand as she muttered, "Stop being so presumptuous, who would like... you."

Chen Mo knew that after stalling for so long, it was almost time to reel in. He turned his gaze to that cold yet beautiful face and said softly, "Fine, I won't wish for anything more. Just say one word, say you don't like me, and from now on, I'll never bother you again. We'll be strangers; you'll walk your sunny path, and I'll walk my single-plank bridge."

At these words, Xia Zhining's whole body shook. The feeling brought by his previous words, "You can leave now," resurfaced, but unlike last time, this time she felt a true sense of severance.

Her heart was cold as ice, as if being cut by a knife.

If she truly said it, from now on, between her and him, things would literally be cut off completely.

The last time, she had already hurt him.

This time was the final chance for reconciliation.

Just five words, something that could be said in a second.

Yet Xia Zhining didn't open her mouth for a long time.

Seeing her hesitation, Chen Mo knew it was just one last push away, and said, "Since you're not speaking, I'll take it as your consent. Fine, from now on, we're cut off. Once this war ends, you should leave the army."

With that, Chen Mo released her soft hand and turned to leave.

But before he could take two steps, he felt two soft things collide with his back, his waist suddenly embraced. Xia Zhining hugged him from behind, her long narrow eyes already misty with tears, and said, "Don't... don't go."

"We're already cut off, what more do you want?" Chen Mo gripped Xia Zhining's hand, trying to release her fingers as if to pull away.

"Do you really have to force me?" Xia Zhining's face blushed red as blood, her breath heaving.

Speaking wasn't right, and neither was silence.

Didn't he just want her to say she liked him?

But at first, she was... forced by him.

Now admitting she liked him meant confessing she liked the one who forced her.

How was that any different from being shameless?

How could she bring herself to say it...

"Liking is liking, not liking is not liking. How am I forcing you? If you think this is me forcing you, then it's better we cut it off sooner. I don't like forcing others," Chen Mo broke free from Xia Zhining's embrace.

Xia Zhining's body trembled lightly, her jade-like face as white as frost, feeling a surge of grievance and anger well up in her heart, chaotic emotions almost drowned her rationale, no longer caring about being the magistrate's daughter, enemies, or dignity, she just wanted to keep this boy in front of her.

She embraced Chen Mo again, tears misting her long eyes:

"Don't cut us off, I was wrong, I... I like you, don't leave me."

Chen Mo was silent for a moment, then pried her hands off his waist, but she quickly hugged him again: "No... don't."

He pried away again; Xia Zhining's heart trembled, thinking it was irretrievable, she raised her fair face, her eyes glistening with tears, ready to say something.

But Chen Mo did not leave, instead, he turned around and spoke warmly, "Have you thought it through? Don't force yourself; if we're together, it's for a lifetime."

"Mm-hmm." Xia Zhining nodded twice, taking his hand, reluctant to let go, placing it tightly on her heart, pressing her head into his embrace, the thought of a lifetime together made her heart flutter.

She couldn't lose this bastard; he'd never leave her for the rest of his life.

In truth, putting aside their conflicts, all of Chen Mo's traits matched the standard of a lover in Xia Zhining's mind.

And considering she was inexperienced in matters of love, hardly anyone could resist Chen Mo's suite of tactics; the moment all her attention was on Chen Mo, it was destined she would be captivated.

Xia Zhining was genuinely in love; her tears weren't fake.

"I have my faults too, from now on let's not upset each other and be good." Chen Mo gently hugged Xia Zhining, softly speaking into her ear, "Now I can always hold you like this, truly something to be envied."

Xia Zhining's heart felt a sweet tremor, seeing how the boy was as attached to her as ever, she secretly let out a sigh of relief while her heart couldn't stop feeling sweetness.

"Zhining."

Suddenly, Xia Zhining heard a deep, affectionate voice near her ear. When she looked up, her lips were met with his.

She let out a gentle hum, instinctively raising her fist to hit his shoulder, but suddenly recalling something, she let her fist go and wrapped her arms around his shoulder, fervently responding, her body gradually softening like water, and in a short while, her face was deeply flushed.

"In private, you can call me 'husband'." Saying this, Chen Mo gently lifted the chin of the woman of marriageable age, her skin delicate and smooth, her glossy, plump lips full of allure.

Xia Zhining's eyes flashed with a touch of panic, dodging away, a bit afraid to meet his gaze, finally nodding slightly after a while.

"Come now, dear Zhining, call me 'husband' so I can hear it." Chen Mo urged.

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