Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot
Chapter 68: Meeting Her, Recognizing Her

Chapter 68: Chapter 68: Meeting Her, Recognizing Her

Meng Qianqian walked back two miles, passing through the western forest and entering a mountain range with layers upon layers of peaks.

Crossing this mountain range would save two to three days of travel.

The mountain paths were rugged, and the snow was heavy, with several winding sections situated on the edge of cliffs. On the left was a steep rocky mountain wall, while the right opened up to a frigid abyss swept by fierce winds.

Sometimes what appeared to be a path could easily be nothing more than a pile of snow. One wrong step and there would be no return.

Holding her horse’s reins, Meng Qianqian trudged forward with difficulty through the snowstorm.

The closer she got to the summit, the heavier the snowstorm grew. The wind blew so fiercely that she could barely keep her eyes open, and the horse repeatedly refused to move forward.

A well-trained horse could sense danger in its surroundings, protecting not just itself but also Meng Qianqian.

Still, she couldn’t allow herself to stop.

She stroked the horse’s head, slowly opening her numb and frostbitten lips to murmur with difficulty, "Don’t worry, I’ll make sure we cross this mountain safely."

The woman and horse pressed on.

A few hundred feet of mountain path took them a full hour to traverse.

Thankfully, the most perilous stretch passed without incident, and the remaining mountain paths promised to be much wider.

"Ah!"

Meng Qianqian exhaled deeply and used her Brocade Spring Saber as support to briefly catch her breath.

The horse, too, was utterly exhausted. Reluctant to ride it further, Meng Qianqian led the horse as she traveled on foot through the night.

Who knows how much time had passed before the woman and horse finally reached the mountain summit.

The horse was hungry, so Meng Qianqian retrieved fodder from its saddle and fed it.

But just as the horse began eating, sudden danger struck!

A faint sound as sharp as tearing fabric came from beneath the heavy snow.

Not good—the ground beneath her feet was frozen, hollow earth!

It was about to crack!

Meng Qianqian reached for the horse’s reins, but it was already too late—against the force of nature, human efforts were as insignificant as dust.

Boom!

She plunged downward along with the cracking frozen earth, tumbling into the abyss.

At that moment of life and death, a hand cold as white bone seized her wrist tightly.

Lu Yuan lay prone in the snow, his body dangling halfway over the cliff. One hand held her wrist while the other gripped the horse’s reins.

The horse bit down fiercely on the reins, striking sparks against the snow-covered ground with its hooves.

Meng Qianqian lifted her gaze, utterly stunned, to see him—and the masked figure behind him suddenly springing upward, sword raised to strike.

Lu Yuan had to choose: release his grip or face death.

He let go—the hand holding the reins.

Both plummeted downward, but he used immense strength to yank Meng Qianqian upward.

As they leapt onto the cliff’s edge, Meng Qianqian drew her Brocade Spring Saber from her waist and struck the masked assailant’s throat with one decisive cut!

Her knee hit the ground as she knelt, stabilizing herself in the snow. At the same time, she gripped Lu Yuan’s wrist tightly and hauled him upward!

Lu Yuan brushed snow off his wide sleeve, curling his lips into a smile. "Not bad swordsmanship."

Meng Qianqian washed the blade clean with snow and slid it back into its sheath. "Good thinking."

She removed her mask and cupped her hands respectfully. "Greetings, Grand Commander."

In the Capital City, she performed the courtesy of a genteel lady. But out in the world, dressed as a man, she adopted the formal bow of a warrior.

Lu Yuan turned away, gazing out at the falling snow that blanketed the world like goose feathers. "We should find some shelter."

Meng Qianqian looked down at the masked assassin’s corpse. "Has the Grand Commander been pursued by assassins this entire journey?"

Lu Yuan replied casually, "It’s hardly unusual. If no one tries to kill me, that would be out of the ordinary."

The two of them found a mountain cave.

The horse stayed outside to graze.

Meng Qianqian removed the supplies from the saddle. Among them were firewood and rations.

Skillfully, she built a bonfire.

She herself often ate frozen biscuits, but knowing she was in the presence of a high-ranking official accustomed to red charcoal and cushioned seats wherever he went, she toasted the biscuits over the fire. She also pulled out a new water pouch, filled it with clean snow, and warmed it by the fire before offering it to him.

Lu Yuan glanced at the water pouch. "This is from the Governor Mansion."

Meng Qianqian nodded. "Yes, Steward Cen gave it to me."

She opened her bundle and took out a bottle of golden sore medicine. "Grand Commander, your wrist is injured."

The injury was caused by jagged stones on the cliff while he had been pulling her up.

Lu Yuan extended his injured right hand to her.

Meng Qianqian: "I meant for you to apply it yourself."

Lu Yuan said calmly, "What’s the matter? Can’t handle a minor wound?"

"I can handle it."

Meng Qianqian dutifully applied the medicine for the Grand Commander.

Lu Yuan noticed the medicine bottle seemed familiar. "This is also from Steward Cen?"

Meng Qianqian nodded. "Yes, it is."

Lu Yuan’s gaze landed on her opened bundle: gloves, earmuffs, knee pads...everything one might need. Even snow ointment to prevent frostbite was included.

Although, judging by the frostbite on her face, it seemed she hadn’t used much of it.

"These were all prepared by Steward Cen?"

"Yes!" Meng Qianqian nodded earnestly. "Does the Grand Commander not have any?"

Lu Yuan held his biscuit but inexplicably lost interest in eating it.

Some thought occurred to Meng Qianqian as she asked, "Grand Commander, how did you recognize me?"

Lu Yuan replied, "The Brocade Spring Saber."

Meng Qianqian touched the sword’s sheath. "This Brocade Spring Saber was also given to me by Steward Cen. Is it different from other Brocade Spring Sabers?"

Lu Yuan: "You certainly talk a lot."

Meng Qianqian: "Where is Zhaozhao?"

Lu Yuan stared at her coldly.

Meng Qianqian smiled. "Just one last question."

Lu Yuan said irritably, "With Qing Shuang."

"Down the mountain?"

"Is that really your last question?"

Meng Qianqian lowered her head.

Lu Yuan said coldly, "Fengsha Town."

Fengsha Town was no more than a hundred miles from here. Traveling to Yumen Pass would take only two days.

It seemed Zhaozhao wasn’t traveling with him, but they wouldn’t be far apart.

This arrangement was safer for Zhaozhao.

Meng Qianqian hesitated but wanted to speak.

Lu Yuan: "Ask!"

Meng Qianqian: "Is Lu Lingxiao also at Fengsha Town?"

Lu Yuan sneered, "How concerned you are about him."

Meng Qianqian said, "I have to find him."

Lu Yuan turned his face away, snorting coldly, "Hmph."

Meng Qianqian, having traveled extensively, felt drowsy as the fire burned, but she forced herself to stay awake.

Lu Yuan spoke indifferently, "I’ll keep watch tonight. I slept enough during the day and can’t sleep at night."

Meng Qianqian didn’t bother with politeness. Hugging her Brocade Spring Saber, she lay down and fell asleep.

Lu Yuan approached the fire and added more wood.

He stared at the flickering flames, then flicked his cloak off his shoulders. The cloak, still warm with his body heat, drifted down to cover her curled-up, diminutive frame.

By the time Meng Qianqian woke up, the sky was already bright.

The bonfire still burned.

"No wonder I didn’t feel cold all night."

During her days traveling in the wild, she had been woken many times by the freezing temperatures. Even at an inn, she had been robbed once—not that she let them succeed—but her good sleep had been ruined.

Now rested, she felt refreshed and full of energy.

Lu Yuan stood at the cave’s entrance. The snow had stopped, and the morning light bathed the mountain range, casting golden hues as far as the eye could see.

He wore a black cloak, standing solitary amidst the vast expanse of heaven and earth, gazing down at the land below.

Meng Qianqian approached him. "Grand Commander."

Lu Yuan’s gaze remained distant. "Let’s descend the mountain."

Meng Qianqian packed her belongings and realized something: "There’s only one horse."

Lu Yuan mounted the horse.

Meng Qianqian blinked. "What about me?"

Lu Yuan said, "Lead the horse."

Meng Qianqian frowned. "That’s my horse."

Lu Yuan replied with perfect justification, "That’s why I’m letting you lead it."

Meng Qianqian’s expression darkened.

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