FID – Chapter 1000

Chapter 1000: Love at First Sight, A Lifetime Bond

The man crossed his arms and looked at her coldly.

His gaze was even colder than the moonlight spilling down from above.

Qian Yi’s bravado instantly crumbled. Her small shoulders slowly hunched as she edged back toward him. “I really will help you but before I help you, you—you have to help me first…”

Seeing his eyes narrow, Qian Yi quickly added, “We’re friends! Friends help each other!”

Xue Qinglian turned and walked away.

In his life, what he hated most was being threatened. He had legs and a mouth: he refused to believe he could be trapped in Xiliang, unable to find a way back on his own.

Behind him, hurried footsteps caught up. The girl grabbed his hand. “Really, I’m not lying! That little path is the only one our entire village has to sneak out. I’ve used it before!”

Xue Qinglian shook her hand off and gave her a cold look, not slowing down.

That single look made Qian Yi’s heart go icy. Finally, she gritted her teeth, chased him again, and this time clung to his arm with all her strength, refusing to let go. “Don’t go! If you try to leave through the checkpoints, you will be thrown into prison and beaten to death. The emperor of my country issued an order: any suspicious undocumented person found is executed immediately!”

“Our country never allows foreign visitors and has no diplomatic relations with other nations. The border guards enforce the emperor’s commands with absolute strictness. Don’t risk your life just because you’re angry at me! Fine, forget asking you for help. I’ll help you sneak out myself, alright?!”

By the end, the girl’s voice had already taken on a sobbing tone. She clung to his hand, and even after being dragged for more than ten meters, she still refused to let go.

“I didn’t mean to trick you. I just didn’t tell you ahead of time that I needed a favor. Why did you get so mad? If you don’t want to help, then don’t. I can think of another way…”

With her wilted, sniffly appearance, she looked as if she’d suffered some great injustice.

“What favor?” Xue Qinglian rubbed his brow and asked.

The girl looked up in surprise. Under the moonlight, her eyes were still watery, bright and glistening, like a little dog abandoned and then picked back up by its owner. “You’re willing to help me?”

“Stand straight and talk.” His head hurt.

A girl who latched onto people with hands and feet at the slightest moment, clinging like an octopus—was she sick? Did she not understand propriety?

“It’s fine, I’m not tired. I can talk like this!” Qian Yi’s eyes lit up instantly. There was hope!

Xue Qinglian sneered, “I’m tired.”

Carrying a few dozen catties of human weight? Yes, he had the strength, but he had zero desire. He was lazy.

Once her feet were on the ground and she steadied herself, Qian Yi even carefully smoothed the wrinkles on his sleeves and pant legs. “The favor is very easy. You don’t need to do anything special. You just need to act as my protector for a while.”

“Protector?”

“We can talk while we walk.” Dragging the man toward the village, Qian Yi finally began explaining. “Every April, the emperor selects eligible young women from our village to enter the palace. Any girl who reaches the required age and still doesn’t have a protector can’t escape.”

“What is a ‘protector’ supposed to be?” Xue Qinglian raised a brow.

“It’s the man a woman of our village is paired with—basically, our marriage partner.” She quickly added, “Don’t worry! I know you already have someone you like. Letting you be my protector is only a temporary measure. Once this year’s selection is over, I’ll help you leave. I definitely won’t defile you, and I’ll never make you into a heartless man!”

“…” The corner of Xue Qinglian’s mouth twitched, but he ultimately chose not to explain.

Talking reason to a foolish scaredy-cat was pointless.

“It’s already March now. The emperor finishes selecting by April. At most, you’ll only need to stay for a month. It won’t delay you too long.”

“You said earlier that the Xiliang emperor ordered that all undocumented foreigners be executed on sight, right? I’m undocumented. So why are you bold enough to drag me into your village?”

Xue Qinglian clearly noticed the girl’s steps falter but pretended not to, sounding casual: “And if someone asks, what will you say? Won’t you be accused of harboring a criminal and get arrested with me? Or will your village kick you out for implicating them?”

“…Cough, they won’t.” Her reply was very quiet and extremely unconvincing.

“What did you say?”

“I said they won’t,” Qian Yi forced herself to repeat. After hesitating for quite a while, she finally added, “Our village has special privileges.”

Special privileges.

Xue Qinglian’s gaze on her grew deeper.

In Xiliang, what kind of place would have privileges?

He wanted to question her further, but they had already stepped into the village. In the distance, someone spotted them and immediately ran over.

Xue Qinglian narrowed his eyes and saw that the one running toward them was a young woman. Her attire was completely different from Qian Yi’s. Qian Yi seemed to have dressed plainly for travel, wearing light-colored everyday clothes.

But this woman was dressed in traditional Xiliang women’s clothing—vivid, colorful garments, and a hat adorned with gold threads and silver leaves. The whole look was extremely ornate.

She rushed up to them and immediately scolded Qian Yi, “Qian Yi, where did you run off to today? Do you know the imperial envoy who selects people is almost here? When they called your name and you weren’t there, the elder was furious! Go explain yourself quickly or you’ll be punished!”

After speaking, she finally noticed the man walking behind Qian Yi. She gasped, “Who is he? Qian Yi, why did you bring a man into the village?!”

“What’s all the fuss about? People will think you’re not serious. He’s my protector,” Qian Yi lifted her chin proudly. “I already have a betrothed. Even if the imperial envoy really comes, it’s nothing to do with me. I’ll explain everything to Elder later.”

The young woman across from her drew in a sharp breath, her gaze flicking back and forth between Qian Yi and the man for a long moment, unable to believe it.

“That’s impossible. You clearly didn’t—”

“Impossible? I fell in love with him at first sight, and we pledged ourselves to each other immediately.” Qian Yi tugged Xue Qinglian past the other woman. “Don’t loiter here. Go back to your house quickly before the elder sees you and scolds you for being idle.”

“…Qian Yi, you still haven’t told me his name!” came the voice from behind, calling out.

“What’s the rush? I’ll report to the elder first, then tell you slowly!” Qian Yi rolled her eyes secretly. She asked and was answered, but who knew if it was even his real name?

During their conversation, Xue Qinglian had quietly scanned the surroundings.

After walking in, he realized that although there were bamboo buildings everywhere, each one was separate, with its own courtyard and walls—basically like the residences in Nanling.

At this hour, walking on the paths, they barely encountered anyone from the village; most must have settled in for the night.

Passing the bamboo courtyard houses, they occasionally heard voices from inside.

Under the moonlight, even the smallest sounds seemed unusually clear, emphasizing the tranquility of the entire village.

But this tranquility was different from that of Xinghua Village—it carried a sense of restraint.

Calm and unreadable, Xue Qinglian pretended not to notice anything unusual as he followed Qian Yi through left and right turns, finally stopping in front of a bamboo building.

“This is where I live. You’re my protector, so you can stay in the same bamboo house as me.” Pushing open the courtyard gate, bathed in the bright moonlight, Qian Yi retrieved an oil lamp from a recess in the courtyard wall and lit it with a fire stick. She beckoned the man still standing at the door to come in. “I’m the only one living in this courtyard. No one will disturb us, don’t worry.”

TL Note: And we’re halfway through the novel…Woohoo!!! Thanks for reading so far (وᵔ▿ᵔ)و