A Kiss for My Sworn Enemy - Chapter 4

Under cover of darkness, I climbed onto the wall.

I trusted the strategist and the others, but I was worried all the same. Better to get back as soon as possible.

I was about to jump when a lazy voice drifted up from below. “Well, now. Where do you think you’re going?”

Startled, I lost my footing and fell.

Yun Yanzhi ended up pinned beneath me, his face thunderous.

“G-good evening.” I gave him an awkward smile. “Lovely moon tonight.”

“Get off me,” he said through gritted teeth.

I considered this, then began pulling out his sash.

“What are you d-doing?” He stared, dumbfounded.

“Doing you… a little favor you’ll enjoy.” I gave him a shy smile. Then, under his burning gaze… I tied his hands firmly together.

There. Now he couldn’t catch me.

“All right, Yun Yanzhi.” I stood and patted down my clothes. “We never owed each other anything. Thank you for saving me. It’s time I left.”

“So you do remember,” he said knowingly.

“Oh, I wouldn’t dare admit to that.” I chuckled and struck his pressure points. “Lie there a little longer. I’m off. See you on the battlefield.”

“Wait!”

“What?” I looked back.

In the moonlight, I couldn’t read his expression. “Why did you do it that day?”

I made a show of giving this serious thought, then suddenly smiled at him. “Guess. Get it right and I’ll let you… heh heh heh!”

I returned to Jin’s military camp.

The strategist let out a breath of relief at the sight of me, then inspected me from head to toe. “Missing for months, and no one knew whether you were alive or dead! I was worried sick!”

I gave a couple of dry laughs. “Survive a disaster, and good fortune is sure to follow.”

“Where have you been?” He eyed me suspiciously.

I laughed dryly again. “That’s a long story… How’s the war going?”

His expression darkened a little. “Who knows what’s got into the other side? We’ve certainly suffered without you.”

“Don’t worry. I’m back.” I patted his shoulder.

“Your wounds… You should rest a while longer.” He shook his head. “I’m not easy about this.”

“Oh, they’re just scratches. Even wounded, I could still thrash that brat Yun Yanzhi!”

The strategist looked as if he wanted to say something.

The strategist looked unconvinced.

The strategist looked at me with tender concern, as though the part of me that had been injured wasn’t my body.

It was my brain.

He didn’t believe me? Fine. I’d show him.

The sun was high. Yun Yanzhi sat astride a powerful black horse in full armor, his expression stern, his sword gleaming in the sunlight.

He was tall and imposing, radiating authority. His thin lips were pressed together, his face cold and merciless.

I sat on my horse opposite him.

Yes. This was how we were supposed to be.

Swords drawn against each other, heading in opposite directions.

“Lin Jingqiu.” His voice was soft and cool. “Why?”

Seriously, man? You’d followed me all the way onto the battlefield, and you still wouldn’t let that one question go?

I said nothing, only tightened my grip on my sword.

“Why?”

Still unwilling to give up, he asked again.

“Why?”

“Why?”

“Master, please stop chanting!” I clutched my head in agony. “Can we just have a proper fight?”

Yun Yanzhi paused. “You’re wounded.”

“I never knew…” I blinked. “Since when does the great General Yun go easy on his opponents?”

Now it was his turn to fall silent.

I seized on his distraction, drew my sword, and pointed it at the enemy ranks. “Charge, boys!”

Then I spurred my horse forward, sword in hand, and attacked Yun Yanzhi.

He reacted at once, parrying my blow. A cold glint crossed his brows, and his heavy sword came down at me.

I turned my wrist to catch it on my blade and twisted aside at the same time. But my strength wasn’t quite there.

His eyes darkened. Another merciless strike. I gritted my teeth and blocked again, losing the initiative.

“Why?” he asked once more, almost grinding the word out. Then, very deliberately: “Lin Jingqiu, do I have to cripple you and tie you up before you’ll stop running and tell me?”

A chill went through me.

I’d never seen Yun Yanzhi like this.

In my memory, he had always been proud and at ease—a graceful young man, impossibly handsome.

He conducted himself honorably. Yet whenever we fought, there was always a faintly wicked smile in his eyes.

“It was one kiss!” I glared at him. “You didn’t lose anything. I didn’t kiss you to death. Why are you taking it so seriously?”

“Seriously? You think I’m taking it too seriously?” He laughed in his fury. “Too seriously!”

His sword came down again. I couldn’t dodge and barely managed to block. My wounds tore open, blood seeping out.

Yun Yanzhi suddenly reached out and seized the back of my collar. Before I could make any sense of it, he hauled me onto his horse like a chicken.

“No! No! Brother! Have mercy, brother!” I pounded his thigh. “Our soldiers are still fighting! Let me keep a little dignity!”

He gripped my neck and pressed me down against the horse, leaning so close that his breath washed over my skin. “You’d better behave. Otherwise… I don’t mind taking it back in front of everyone.”

Taking what back?

He ran his tongue over his lips, looking horribly tempting.

Fuck.