Bab 35: Loyal to the End
"General Lu, there's something I need to talk with you about…" Zhao Mei started hesitantly. Lu Qinyi was currently seated at the table, map spread out before him, Zhao Mei seated across from him. He was in better condition these days, able to dress properly, his robes pulled tight to hide the bandages beneath, his hair had been pulled up neatly into his usual high ponytail.
"Go ahead."
Zhao Mei suddenly seemed to find it hard to find the the words to bridge the awkward subject, a slight frown forming on her features. "There are rumours being spread around the camp, none of which are the good kind."
Displeasure immediately flashed over Lu Qinyi's face. He could imagine what the rumours were of and the more he thought about it, the more pissed off he would become. "There is no good kind. Let them suspect whatever they want, there are more important things to worry about."
"General Lu, some soldiers claim they saw you and General Fei-"
"Shut up." Lu Qinyi snapped, fixing a piercing glare on her.
Zhao Mei's brows rose slightly in shock. "...Ah. That part is true then…"
Lu Qinyi's expression was gloomy, seeming to be in a truly poor mood now. But the problem hadn't been addressed yet and so Zhao Mei could only continue to talk, although at a time like this, she almost wished she had Yang Xun's way with words. Alas, she didn't, so she could only blandly state "Well... There are now a few soldiers saying that you fell in love with the enemy."
"Zhao Mei." His tone was icy now. "That's enough. If anyone mentions anything like this again, make it clear that the punishment is immediate expulsion. If they can't trust me, they can leave. I don't want to hear about this again."
Zhao Mei promptly shut up, she wasn't keen to try his temper any further anyway. Yang Xun was the one concerned about it, not her. Something about low morale and mistrust? It wasn't her concern regardless.
They remained working quietly until Yang Xun entered the tent. "General, the latest report has arrived."
At first, Lu Qinyi didn't look up from analyzing the map, simply holding out his for the papers. But as Yang Xun placed them in his hand, he stopped, looking up at him.
"You're injured."
"Nothing serious, an arrow grazed past my arm."
"It's serious enough that your movements are stiff and you reek of blood." Lu Qinyi countered, taking the papers from him and looking back down at his work. He sounded displeased so Yang Xun didn't argue with him, wisely shutting up. But as he went to pull a chair to sit down, Lu Qinyi held out a hand to stop him. "Go get treated."
"I don't mean to go against you General but I can't. The infirmary tents are full, it's chaos in there."
"I'll treat you then. There should be supplies stored in the chest over in the corner."
"General Lu, you're still injured yourself. I'll treat him." Both Yang Xun and Lu Qinyi's gazes fixed on Zhao Mei.
"You've never treated anyone before, have you?"
"It shouldn't be too difficult."
"It's harder than it looks." Lu Qinyi warned before simply shrugging, unfolding the report he had just received.
Yang Xun sat down beside Zhao Mei, shifting his robes off one of his shoulders to expose the wound that had been poorly tied up with a scrap of fabric, which was already soaked red. Zhao Mei fetched the supplies, laying them out. She paused a moment, looking at the bottles and jars she had set out, her brows furrowing slightly.
Yang Xun smothered a quiet chuckle but Zhao Mei still heard him, shooting him a glare.
Lu Qinyi spared them a short glance before reaching out to nudge one of the bottles closer. "Start with this. Clean the wound twice." He then arranged a few jars for her. "Use these in order. It will be enough until he can be seen by Dr Liang."
Zhao Mei nodded and began her work. Yang Xun sat patiently and still, Lu Qinyi returned to reading. However, the further he read, the darker his expression became. The longer Yang Xun looked at him, the more concern he felt. "General?"
There was the sound of paper tearing. Zhao Mei paused, looking up. Both lieutenants watched as their general slowly tore the report in his hands into tiny pieces. "...General Lu?"
"We're losing."
"The battle?"
"The war."
There was a stifling silence in the tent. Lu Qinyi stared down at the map below him, sprinkled with a snow of torn paper, the sound of his finger slowly tapping on the table was the only noise disturbing that oppressive silence.
Finally, he spoke again. "We'll hold the border for as long as we can. The fastest route to the current positioning of our soldiers has some difficult terrain. Have Cao Su deliver the orders."
"I'm afraid Cao Su was lost in battle during the time you were out of action, General." Yang Xun replied quietly.
Lu Qinyi frowned. The reports he had read contained Divisions and numbers of those lost. Not names. "That's… unfortunate. She was a skilled messenger. Wang Xi?"
Yang Xun shook his head. "He was lost not long ago."
Lu Qinyi sighed heavily, running his fingers through his hair. He waved a hand. "Just send someone then, the next best."
Yang Xun gave a short nod. The moment Zhao Mei finished tying off his bandages, he pulled his robes back on, standing and saluting to his general before leaving.
There was another silence following Yang Xun's departure.
"General?" Zhao Mei said after a while.
"I want you to leave for the capital, inform General Sun of the situation. You're aware of what to do afterwards."
"Yes. And Yang Xun?"
"He won't be going with you yet. He has recently started making excuses, I think he's opposed to the plan now."
"He's loyal. He'll be loyal to the end."
Lu Qinyi considered her words thoughtfully, quietly echoing. "Loyal to the end…" He sat back, tilting his head to stare up at the roof of the tent. "I'd rather he wasn't. What he's insisting on doing isn't loyalty, it's stupidity."
"Isn't that why the two of you get along so well? You're both stupid."
"What about you then Mei Mei? Why do you get along with us?"
She gazed at him before smiling faintly, a barely noticeable melancholy to her gaze. "It would seem I'm stupid as well."
He met her gaze. "Hopefully not. Leave tomorrow."
"Understood, General… It's been a pleasure." She stood, cupping her hands in salute respectfully.
"It has."
She then pulled something from her robes, tossing it onto the table before him. "This is a letter for you."
Lu Qinyi picked it up, inspecting it. "Yanlin?"
Zhao Mei nodded. Lu Qinyi ran his fingers over it before tucking it away in his robes without reading it. "Thank you."
Zhao Mei was just about to leave when he spoke again. "Mei Mei… Take care."
She paused, hovering at the edge of the tent, glancing back at him. "Is that your last order?"
"No. It's my last request."
—
Lu Qinyi paused, leaning back against the trunk of the nearest tree as he struggled to catch his breath. Yang Xun was heaving just as heavily, hunching over and leaning on his knees. But after only a few moments, he lifted his head again, looking alertly in the direction they had come from. "G-general," he managed between breaths, "We need to keep going."
Lu Qinyi shook his head. "We've led them as far as we can."
Yang Xun frowned, lifting his head and looking around. But it was true, they had reached the river. This was as far as they could go. "...What now?"
"There's nothing now. Leave, I'll stay here."
Yang Xun turned back to him, narrowing his eyes. "I'm not leaving. If this is the end, then we'll die together." He was determined. Lu Qinyi knew that look. He wouldn't change his mind.
Lu Qinyi stared at him for a few long moments before he slowly nodded. He got up, walking over to the edge of the river. It was wide and the water within was so dark it was impossible to tell its depths. All you could tell was the water was rushing by with terrifying speed. "Do you think it's possible to cross?"
Yang Xun joined at his side, raising a hand to shade his eyes as he scanned the river. "Not a chance, the water is flowing too fast. You'd be swept downstream before you took even a step."
"Do you happen to remember where this river leads to?"
Yang Xun shook his head slightly. "I don't."
"That's fine. As long as it's away from here. You and Mei Mei look out for each other, you should know where to find her."
Yang Xun's eyes widened abruptly and he hastily whipped around to face Lu Qinyi. "General, what-"
He didn't get to finish his sentence. Lu Qinyi kicked him hard, with as much force as he could manage. The cold waters promptly swallowed Yang Xun, sweeping him away mercilessly. Lu Qinyi watched with a calm gaze. He could only hope Yang Xun managed to survive but he stood more of a chance tumbling in those waters than he did remaining with Lu Qinyi. The only fate that remained if he had stayed by his side was death.
Lu Qinyi placed a hand gently over where his wound laid beneath his clothes, brows furrowed slightly in pain. He then turned, slowly walking back to the tree he had rested against. He sank down to sit with his back against its trunk, placing his sword to rest in the grass at his side. He then took the letter from the folds of his robes, unfolding it and beginning to read. He could hear sounds in the distance. It wouldn't be long now.
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
mehasacupcake
mehasacupcake Decided to upload a chapter for my beloved Rae <3
Catching up to where I've finished writing in like 2 days is unbelievably impressive but now you're stuck waiting for me to write lol.
This is officially the end of the war, we start on the aftermath now!
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
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