Desert Rhapsody - Chapter 25

Chapter 25

Jiang Yuan had never once spoken the name “Abal.” The syllables felt so unfamiliar as they left her mouth. From their first meeting when he was fifteen to now, when he was seventeen, they had always met briefly, then parted again. Most of the time when he was outside, Abal concealed his identity, and even if she had to call him, she would never use his real name. Jiang Yuan had never imagined she would say his name, much less under circumstances like these.

But once the words were out, there was no taking them back. Abal moved with incredible speed. His curved blade slid into Baitullah’s hair, twisted, and pulled. She had just risen to her feet with a look of displeasure, about to skip off toward Lady Fatini. The curved blade was single-edged, sharp enough to sever hair and tangle the ornaments woven through it, tripping her and sending her sprawling to the floor. Wind stirred beside Jiang Yuan. Lady Fatini turned and ran. Jiang Yuan had already grabbed the hem of her skirt. With a hard yank, she dragged her back, then used the momentum to turn behind her and clamp a hand over her mouth.

Even quicker was the short blade Lady Fatini drew from the strap around her thigh. Clearly, she had been on guard from the moment she was pulled back. What she had not expected was for Jiang Yuan to be this skilled. Jiang Yuan merely shifted her arm and knocked the knife aside, without letting it hinder her goal. A muffled scream pierced through her palm. Jiang Yuan pressed her other hand against the back of Lady Fatini’s neck, forcing her head back as far as it would go. Her voice choked off, leaving only low, broken sounds in her throat.

When Jiang Yuan looked back, Abal had already subdued Baitullah as well. During those first few months, he had also been her best student, the one she had taught with the most care. The handsome youth had now grown into a young man, his physique and strength utterly different from before. Baitullah was pinned beneath him with effortless ease, her mouth covered, her hair in disarray as she thrashed like a turtle flipped onto its shell. He lifted his head and signaled to Jiang Yuan. She dragged Lady Fatini into the hall. As she passed him, he gave a soft whistle. “I’ve never heard you say my name before.” Those troublesome blue eyes were still full of interest even at a moment between life and death. “Feels pretty good.”

Jiang Yuan kicked him outright. He burst into laughter.

The fire was still burning. It seemed to be somewhere near the residence, its glow bright against the night sky, but it had not truly reached them. It had only given them a false alarm. The commotion had risen abruptly, then quickly steadied, followed by shouts for people to put out the fire. Jiang Yuan asked, “You set the fire?” He nodded in admission. “Don’t worry. It won’t reach the house.” They both fell silent and listened to the steward giving orders. Some people went out to check the situation and help, while others came this way.

Abal said, “Come here.” They squeezed into the farthest corner of the hall. He stayed on the outside and switched places with Jiang Yuan. She was responsible for holding down Baitullah, while Abal took over Lady Fatini. Their bodies hid Jiang Yuan and Baitullah from view. Abal nudged Jiang Yuan with his foot, making her press down on top of Baitullah. The little girl struggled viciously, trying to bite her. Jiang Yuan used the same trick as before, pinning her to the floor until she could barely breathe.

Footsteps rushed in from outside.

“My lady?”

A gauze screen separated the hall from the corridor outside, keeping out wind and sand. When the breeze lifted it, everything beyond appeared hazy and alluring. Abal had his back to the newcomers, holding Lady Fatini down as he kissed her. His headscarf had fallen and slipped onto her shoulder, leaving his powerful arms and chest bare to the air, his clothing half undone. Only after the handsome young man heard the voice from that side did he lazily lift his head. His lips parted. He glanced at the misty-eyed mistress of the house, licked his lips, then turned sideways and looked back outside.

He said, “Can’t you tell we’re amusing ourselves here?” His voice was hoarse, unmistakably thick with desire. Only from Jiang Yuan’s angle could anyone see the dagger in his hand. At some point, Lady Fatini’s dagger had ended up with him, held steadily against the woman’s back. The servants dropped to their knees in terror and begged forgiveness. Lady Fatini gave a soft, delicate murmur. Her clothes had nearly been stripped off by Abal, and she lay on her side at the edge of the carpet. Under the glazed lamps, the two entangled bodies looked like flowing cream.

“What happened outside?” she asked. The servants replied, “There was a fire.”

But it had not reached their side. At most, it counted as a scare. Judging by the current situation, it could hardly even be called that. Four people were tangled together in the corner, impatient as if they could not wait another moment, their clothes almost off. Who would have the leisure to care about the fire outside? Jiang Yuan’s thoughts wandered for an instant, and Baitullah began to struggle. In her panic, Jiang Yuan hurriedly pinned her down and lowered her own head even further, pretending to kiss her.

No one grew suspicious. Abal said, “If there’s nothing else, leave! My lady…” He leaned closer to Lady Fatini, moving against her as he kissed her neck, every gesture filled with temptation and pleading. Lady Fatini said, “Leave us.” With their orders received, the servants bowed and withdrew.

Only after the footsteps had completely faded did Jiang Yuan dare raise her head. Abal looked at her and lifted his brows in teasing amusement. She knew she could not stop herself from blushing, so she could only do everything she could to pretend nothing had happened. “Cut me a piece of cloth to gag her.” She was still pressing down on Baitullah’s mouth. If her attention slipped again, the girl really would bite a chunk out of her. Abal leisurely instructed her, “Hold her down. I’ll do it.”

They exchanged hostages again. Jiang Yuan watched as Abal deftly looped Baitullah’s hair around her mouth and bound her hands with it. Her hair was long and thick enough for such a use. Only then did he tear strips from her clothing to use as rope and a gag. The little girl’s body was exposed to the air. Jiang Yuan instinctively turned her head away, and Lady Fatini let out a soft laugh.

“You really are adorable.”

She had switched back to respectful speech. Their only hope of rescue had already been sent away, so clearly, if she wanted to save her own life, she would have to find another way. Once he had finished with Baitullah, Abal did the same to her, and Lady Fatini did not resist at all. Jiang Yuan truly could not stand it anymore. She took off her own outer robe and covered both women with it. Baitullah still tried to kick her, while Lady Fatini looked at her with a soft, charming smile.

Her mouth had not been sealed, but she was also considerate of the kidnappers’ hard work, neither shouting nor moving. When Jiang Yuan straightened, she said, “I see.” She smiled as she spoke. “So he is your husband.”

“No,” Jiang Yuan said expressionlessly. “We have nothing to do with each other.”

Abal went outside to check the situation, and after confirming there was no danger, he did not come back in. The night was unusually noisy. He was still playing with the curved blade in his hand, watching the flames in quiet distraction. Jiang Yuan thought for a moment, then slowly walked over. As expected, Abal had been waiting for her. From here, Lady Fatini would not be able to hear them.
He leaned in and pinned her against the pillar, his fingers crawling over her exposed skin. She was wearing only cloth armor, and goose bumps rose all over her at once. She wanted to smash his head in, but she held back. Then she heard him bury his face against her neck and let out a low laugh.

After that, he shifted aside just enough for her to find a suitable distance. In that position, the two of them turned their heads and looked into the hall, taking in every move the hostages made.

He asked, “What happened?”

Jiang Yuan gave him a brief account of what had happened earlier. She did not want to notice it, but they were so close that when the bandit chief heard the Blood Eagle was about to be destroyed, his movements paused for an instant. Then he said, “Then I suppose I should thank you, my dear Jia Nan. You saved my life.”

Jiang Yuan said coldly, “Then move your mouth away.”

Abal did not move his mouth away. He even bit her. “This is how I’m repaying you.” He laid out his plan with utter indifference. “I’ll kill the two of them. You pretend to chase me, and that will clear you of suspicion. Once I find a scapegoat in the city, I’ll go after that messenger and kill him.”

There was nothing about that messenger worth caring about. The letter contained nothing more than news of Huasan’s death. She said, “…You want to disguise yourself as the messenger?”

“Not a bad suggestion, but I want to see for myself what’s written in that letter.” He spoke lazily. “Perhaps it mentions you too.”

It was a suspicion she could not avoid. Who knew whether Lady Fatini had been telling the truth? Fashir’s trap might have been laid long ago. Who knew whether the Blood Eagle could still be saved now? Jiang Yuan fell silent. But between the two paths before him, he had chosen the messenger without hesitation. In that sense, he had indeed repaid her. As if seeing the words she had not spoken, the bandit chief let out a scornful laugh. “What are you worried about? I merely chose the path most beneficial to me. If I knew where Faisal was right now, I would betray you without hesitation too.” His voice turned icy. “Fortunately, I don’t believe he’ll survive afterward.”

Those cutting words were nothing but retaliation and venting. Jiang Yuan wanted to ignore them, but she could not. Worse, she walked straight into his trap and felt anger flare in her chest. She must have had water in her brain to risk destroying Adnan’s foundation just to help him. She wanted to go back in time and hack herself to death. According to Abal’s plan, everything was his revenge. What did it matter if a deranged bandit chief killed two more people? Other than the fact that he would very likely become a commander with no soldiers and be hunted to the ends of the earth. So what? What did that have to do with her? Expressionless, she said, “That plan is full of holes.”

For one thing, if her attendant died outside, anyone with a brain would suspect her.

He did not deny it. “My dear Jia Nan, I have great faith in your eloquence.”

“I truly regret warning you.”

“And I regret not raping you. That night, and last night too.” The bandit chief’s smile turned a little vicious. He glared at her, and she glared right back. They hurled cruel words at each other, both wanting to cut the other down with a single stroke and be done with it. “If I’d known you loved me this much, I wouldn’t have had to pay someone to set a fire just so I could avoid sleeping with that old woman. If it meant I could sleep with you, I wouldn’t mind taking on two extra burdens. But it doesn’t matter. I can have you tonight.” He said harshly, “I told you I would take you for myself, no matter the cost. Even if the Blood Eagle is gone, I keep my word, Jia Nan.”

He lowered his head, and under Jiang Yuan’s stunned gaze, kissed her viciously.

Jiang Yuan felt as though what she received was not a kiss, but a kind of fury. She had not expected Abal to have lied to her. Back in the desert, when he had crouched beside her and asked, “Do you want to try it with me?” she had not expected him to be this ruthless. He did not kiss her for long. Their lips and tongues tangled for a while, and after they had both vented that anger that made them want to kill each other, they calmed down and he let her go. Saliva dripped from her lips. Breathing evenly, she asked, “You haven’t had a woman in a year?”

The bandit chief had bitten her mouth swollen. Now that he was satisfied, it was as if that dark, sullen air had never existed at all. His blue eyes narrowed, and he smiled with smug satisfaction. “I’ve never failed to get prey I’ve set my eyes on.”

Jiang Yuan pushed him away, and he obligingly stepped back. She wiped her mouth. She truly disliked kissing him. The man was like a vicious wolf, as if he wanted to swallow her alive. Abal said regretfully, “A pity the timing isn’t right.”

Jiang Yuan ignored him and walked back. Lady Fatini looked at them; clearly, she had watched the whole thing as well. Though she was the one at their mercy, she still looked perfectly composed, not at all panicked. Then her gaze fell on Abal.

“So that’s how it is,” she said with a giggle. “Abal, you’re a hunter too.”

Expressionless, Jiang Yuan said, “No, there is nothing between us.” But obviously, no one would believe that anymore. Abal included.

She sat down and looked into Lady Fatini’s eyes. Those soft, charming eyes rested gently on her, smiling as they waited for her to speak. Jiang Yuan thought for a while, slowly refining the plan in her mind.

In any case, this idea was still better than destroying Adnan’s estate and then slaughtering Abal in a fit of rage.

“Lady Fatini, I have an idea. Perhaps we can both get what we want. Since all you want is for Fashir to seal the city, why not let us try to kill him?”

Aaaaaaaaaah, I had the plot progression all planned out, so why was this so hard to write? I don’t know why. Maybe it’s because daily updates have stripped me of all emotion.

But I’m on a 20,000-word ranking list.

I want to die.

Before I die, I’d better roll off to sleep first…

Thank you to the little angels who threw Overlord Tickets for me~

Thanks to the little angel who threw [Landmine]: Number-kun, 1

Thank you to the little angels who watered me with nutrient solution~

Thanks to the little angels who watered nutrient solution: Orange Meow Meow, 10 bottles; Qingzi, 10 bottles; 370, 7 bottles; Delta Bazhahei, 5 bottles; Kekeda, 3 bottles; Kelisi, 1 bottle; Lin Youling, 1 bottle; A Rhododendron, 1 bottle; Meng Qiyi, 1 bottle; Xiaokai, 1 bottle

Thank you all so much for your support. I will keep working hard! ^_^