Finest Servant

Chapter 535 The Thorny Rose

"Yueya'er!" Lin Wanrong stared in disbelief. He never thought Old Gao would be right—the caravan they were looking at was indeed Yueya'er's. Life was full of such coincidences!

Gazing at the young Turkic woman's graceful figure, Gao Qiu couldn't help but drool. He snickered twice and said boastfully, "Brother Lin, how about it? My predictions are spot on, right? She can't escape our grasp now, and you've got yourself another warm body for the bed."

The Turkic maiden seemed completely unaware of the imminent danger. Her spirited blue-roan-colored horse galloped swiftly, her figure swaying gracefully, her gauzy skirt billowing. From a distance, she looked like a beautiful flower floating over the green fields.

Hu Bugui swallowed hard and whispered, "General, shall we proceed?"

Even a rugged man like Hu Bugui seemed reluctant to lay a finger on Yueya'er. It was evident that the young Turkic woman had an enchanting allure that was hard to forget. Before Lin Wanrong could respond, Gao Qiu chuckled, "Take action, of course! Kill the men, strip the women. Isn't that what the Turks do when they plunder our cities? We've never captured a Turkic woman before, and this young lady would be a worthy maidservant for Brother Lin’s wife."

Lin Wanrong shook his head in amusement, "Brother Hu, don't listen to Old Gao's nonsense. Am I someone who's so lustful that I fall for everyone I see? Who would even believe that? Just focus on what you have to do and don't think too much."

His clarification only confused Hu Bugui even more. Whether General Lin was infatuated with every woman he saw was a matter of public opinion, best left aside. But after all this talk, did the general have some relationship with Yueya'er or not? It remained a mystery. Not daring to ask more, Hu Bugui clenched his fists and said, "Understood. Brother Gao, let's charge together when the time comes. It's good to have each other's backs."

"Right, right. Cover for each other," Gao Qiu nodded knowingly, grinning mischievously.

"Brothers, charge with me!" he yelled.

Gao Qiu rose simultaneously, his blade gleaming brightly, catching the eye. "Brothers, time to capture some Turkic women! Charge!"

The hundred soldiers behind him were invigorated as they followed, like starving wolves on the prairie, sprinting toward the Turkic caravan.

Caught off guard, the Turkic caravan had never expected to be ambushed on their own turf—the vast grasslands. Seeing a band of ragged-looking, fierce "bandits" wielding blades and charging like the wind, they immediately panicked.

The leading horse of the caravan reared its front hooves and let out a long, mournful neigh. Dozens of horses behind it were startled, turning to flee.

"Steady!" A robust voice erupted from the Turkic cavalry. A burly man, seemingly their leader, expertly rode out from the formation. His left hand gripped the reins while his right held a hefty horse saber, guarding a young woman called Yueya'er. With a thunderous voice, he roared, "Ol dalağın zorbaılar!" (They are bandits of the plains!)

Lin Wanrong trailed behind Old Hu and Gao Qiu, captivated by the commanding presence of the Turkic leader. The way he held his blade screamed of a veteran warrior from the plains. Lin Wanrong had scant understanding of the Turkic language, save for a few choice curses. "Dammit, why is his Turkic so regional? Sounds like he's from the outskirts of the royal court; I can't understand a thing. Old Hu, translate!"

Gao Qiu nodded approvingly, "Your observation is spot-on, General Lin. His accent does smell of the soil; must be from the outskirts. No wonder even I can't understand him!"

‘As if you two could ever understand, even if it were spoken by a Turkic baby!’ Old Hu contemptuously appraised the pair, chuckling, "He's simply calling us bandits of the plains."

"What nonsense!" Gao Qiu snorted, clearly annoyed. "These Turkic people are twisting facts. I can understand if they point the finger at me, but when have they seen a bandit as handsome and gallant as Brother Lin?"

"Indeed, indeed," Old Hu chimed in with a laugh.

Lin Wanrong couldn't bear it any longer. He kicked Gao Qiu's rear, fuming, "How many times have I told you not to mock my shortcomings? They're innate, and I can't change them. When will you learn? Do it again, and I'll have you repeat that a hundred times!"

A hundred times?! Sweat trickled down Old Hu's forehead. Seizing the opportunity as he swung his saber, he distanced himself from the pair and bellowed, "Surround them! Don't let a single one escape!"

While he spoke, hundreds of warriors raised their sabers and aimed their crossbows at the caravan, encircling the Turkic riders.

In the merchant caravan, Turkic men formed a protective circle around Yueya'er, a clear testament to her central position within the group. Adoration and devotion filled their eyes; it seemed they would gladly risk their lives to protect her.

The Turkic leader's eyes flashed with rage, his horse saber poised defensively in front of Yueya'er.

Though surrounded, Yueya'er sat composed atop her magnificent steed. Her tranquil beauty was like a freshly bathed goddess; her slender figure draped in a sheer silk dress. Her eyes were calm, their azure depths serene and clear, as if mirroring a lake in the depths of the plains. She cast her gaze over the crowd, her tranquil eyes conveying a sense of unperturbed majesty.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

The exotic beauty before them seemed to exude a mystical allure. One glance from her and everyone felt as though they'd stopped breathing, captivated by the depth of her gaze.

"Who knew the Turks could produce such attractive women?" Old Gao mumbled to himself, drooling.

Lin Wanrong, however, had already experienced the enchanting power of this foreign damsel. Among the crowd, he was the only one who remained composed. He shook Hu Bugui, who seemed lost in a daze. "Wake up, wake up! Brother Hu, it's time to get moving!"

"Ah!" Hu Bugui snapped to attention, raising his gleaming war blade and shouting furiously, "Halt! This mountain is mine, this tree is mine. If you wish to pass, you must all stay!"

Damn it! Lin Wanrong almost fainted. Old Hu had shouted this so fluently; did he really think we were bandits? Why didn't he shout it in Turkic? It’s just “Yueya’er,” what's so hard about it?

Unable to resist, he glanced back at "Yueya'er." He saw the Turkic girl was also observing him, clearly intrigued by his earlier outburst. Sitting quietly on her horse, strands of her raven-black hair peeked out from under a small golden hat, gracing her smooth forehead. Her face was partially obscured by a transparent veil, revealing an exceptionally beautiful profile. Her elegant nose, rosy lips, and slightly upturned mouth corners hinted at a serene wildness.

‘What's she looking at me for?’ Lin Wanrong checked himself over. His boots were falling apart, his shirt tattered. His clothes were stained with a mix of blood and sweat, and he was covered in dust and grime, hair and beard unkempt. He looked like an unevolved barbarian of the plains.

‘Could I attract her attention looking like this?’ Lin Wanrong shook his head in disbelief. As Old Gao had said, true handsomeness could never be hidden, just like gold in a mound of sand. It was incurable!

"Yueya'er" took a few more glances at him and then, as if spring water in March, her deep eyes lightened, and she broke into a slow smile.

Her smile was like sunlight breaking through clouds, or like a field of flowers blooming on the prairie. Not only did the Great Hua soldiers gawk in astonishment, but the surrounding nomadic men also dropped to their knees, muttering prayers with utmost devotion.

Lin Wanrong felt his heart race, filled with irritation. ‘Damn it, this little girl is so disrespectful! She's clearly eyeing me up. This is intolerable!’ He couldn't stand her mysterious smile any longer, spat on the ground, and barked, "I warn you, stop smiling at me. Smile again, and someone's going to die!"

Yet "Yueya'er" seemed not to understand, silently flashing her enigmatic smile, her willowy eyebrows raising ever so slightly, ever so beautiful.

Lin Wanrong was furious. He signaled to Hu Bugui, who swiftly lunged forward, grabbing a Turkic horse from the merchant caravan. With one swing of his blade, a fountain of blood erupted. The horse was decapitated, its blood splattering everywhere.

In the eyes of the Turkic people, horses were as precious as life itself. To kill a fine horse in front of them was a monumental insult. The tribesmen were instantly roused to fury. Yueya'er's face went cold, her eyes shooting daggers at Lin Wanrong, flames seemingly ablaze within her gaze.

The Turkic man leading the group let out a roar of rage, and behind him, dozens of Turkic merchants sprang forward, brandishing their blades and charging at Lin Wanrong.

"Bring it on!" Gao Qiu bellowed, his figure charging forward first, followed closely by a dozen or so soldiers. These were battle-hardened veterans, their combat skills far surpassing those of the mere traders. Within five exchanges, all of the emerging tribesmen were cut down. The leading Turkic man was visibly furious; roaring, he locked blades with Hu Bugui and fought fiercely.

With a wave of his hand, Lin Wanrong ordered hundreds of his soldiers to storm forward like a pack of wolves, charging toward the ten or so large carts in the caravan.

"Toqtat (Stop)!" A sharp, urgent cry rang out, the voice full of spirit. It was the enchanting Yueya'er. Hearing her speak for the first time, Lin Wanrong was astonished. The same Turkic language, when spoken by Sheng Dan and Labuli, sounded coarse. But when Yueya'er spoke, her voice was melodic and captivating. It was true that comparisons were odious.

Hearing Yueya'er's command, the leading Turkic man parried Hu Bugui's blade and quickly returned to her side. Old Hu staggered back two steps, his face flushed and breathing heavily, "That was a powerful stroke; this guy is no ordinary foe."

Lin Wanrong waved his hand dismissively and chuckled, "Don't stop! Keep going, everyone!"

The soldiers quickened their pace toward the carts. Seeing this, Yueya'er clenched her legs against her horse's sides and leaped into the air. Leaning slightly, she whipped her riding crop fiercely at a Great Hua soldier's face.

The finesse in her movements revealed her extraordinary skills. Yueya'er's horsemanship was superb, outclassing even Hu Bugui, not to mention Lin Wanrong.

She swung her whip so fast and furious that it was about to hit the soldier's face when suddenly, it stopped in mid-air.

Straining, Yueya'er tugged on her whip a few times, her charming face flushed crimson. Yet the whip remained unmoving, held firmly by a dark-skinned "wild man"—Lin Wanrong—who sat on his horse, grinning mischievously. "Such a long whip you have, almost as long as mine. Go ahead, Yueya'er, pull! Pull hard! It's elastic, you won't break it. Just like the saying, pull the girl, pull the girl, don't be afraid!"

"Brother Lin, what great skill you have!" Gao Qiu cheered on, clapping his hands, "Yes, little miss, pull as hard as you can! I'd like to see just how long this whip can stretch!"

Seeing Yueya'er in trouble, the Turkic caravan leader at her side suddenly let out an angry shout, slashing his blade toward Lin Wanrong's head.

Gao Qiu parried the attack, locking blades with him, and bellowed, "It's an honor for your young miss to be teased by my Brother Lin. What are you Turks doing, interfering?"

Lin Wanrong felt wronged. It was clearly this young miss who had been teasing him with her whip, yet now it seemed the tables had turned.

With a "clash," the two men's blades met. The bearded Turk let out a furious roar, retreated a step, his face pale as chalk. Gao Qiu also took half a step back, his breaths coming quicker than before. He locked eyes with the stranger, both men surprised. "Who is this foreigner? He possesses such strength."

Seeing her companion halted by Gao Qiu and realizing aid was futile, Yueya'er tightened her grip on her horsewhip, teeth clenched and face flushed in anger. She shouted, "Bos qoy! Bos qoy!"

"Everyone knows I don't understand the Turkic language," Lin Wanrong sneered as he waved at the surrounding men. Soon, soldiers had leaped onto the carriage.

Yueya'er was desperate. With a soft cry, she loosened her grip on the horsewhip, and her horse charged directly at Lin Wanrong.

Lin Wanrong swiftly sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the galloping horse. Just as he did, a flash of cold steel came toward his face—Yueya'er's short saber glinting with a menacing light aimed right at him.

‘Trying to trick me?’ Lin Wanrong snorted coldly and extended his hands swiftly and accurately, gripping her delicate wrists. Yueya'er grunted; her strength waned, and her curved blade plummeted to the ground.

Their horses passed close by. Yueya'er's attack had failed, and her wrists were now in his grasp. Frustrated, she launched herself from her horse, aiming both feet directly at his face.

‘You want to trample me?’ Lin Wanrong chuckled darkly, twisting her wrists sharply and planting a foot on her horse. As the horse whinnied and sprinted away, Yueya'er was left suspended in the air, like a beautiful branch hovering in mid-air. Lin Wanrong gripped her body tightly, pulling her into his arms and onto his horse. He opened his mouth wide, aiming for her cheek.

"Ah—" Even in their brief combat, Yueya'er had not panicked. But now, a disheveled and demonic face was lunging for her beautiful cheek, and even the strongest of women would have their souls frightened away.

A subtle fragrance wafted from her body—it was the scent of the Xiao family's perfume. The young Turkic girl shivered in his arms, her pale blue eyes staring daggers at him, her fists clenched tightly.

"Scared now?" Lin Wanrong laughed heartily, pulling his face back and taking a long breath. Just as Yueya'er thought of making another move, the terrifying man suddenly turned, hooking the corners of his mouth upwards and rolling his eyes back, looking as horrifying as possible.

"Ah—" Once again, Yueya'er screamed, this time scared by Lin Wanrong's monstrous face.

Lin Wanrong laughed loudly and forcefully threw her off the horse. Even before she could land, a small curved blade slipped from her sleeve—sharp as could be—and aimed for his lower abdomen.

A rose with thorns indeed!

Lin Wanrong tightly gripped the girl's wrist and sneered, "Little Miss Yueya'er, remember this: don't try any tricks with me. Not only can I scare people, but I can also kill!"

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