Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 174 Pursuit
"That old scoundrel!" Pei Yan cursed angrily, "He just ran away like that!"

Pei Family Village certainly has warhorses. However, everyone is currently engaged in sword fighting and has no time to pursue on horseback. Are they really just going to stand by and watch General Lü escape?
Pei Qinghe said calmly, "Pei Yun had been lying in ambush all along, General Lü can't escape."

Then, he led the group to continue wielding their swords and killing the enemy.

The stern-faced military commander who was overseeing the battle was killed in action, and General Lü abandoned his soldiers and fled. The soldiers of Fanyang finally collapsed. Some turned and ran, while others threw down their weapons and knelt down to surrender.

Pei Qinghe ordered Pei Yan, Sun Cheng, and others to lead troops in pursuit, while he himself led the remaining Pei family army to continue wielding their swords and killing the enemy. The Fanyang soldiers who threw down their weapons and surrendered were all bound hand and foot and thrown into the warehouse.

Shi Yan held the knife and guarded the prisoners with a professional air.

The brothers Dong Dalang and Dong Erlang, each carrying a knife, stood guard. One prisoner quietly struggled, trying to untie the ropes binding his wrists. Dong Dalang stepped forward and slashed the prisoner. Another prisoner was swearing, and Dong Erlang stepped forward with a cold smile and beheaded him.

The remaining prisoners then became obedient and behaved themselves.

Shi Yan was very self-aware and stayed in the storeroom without wandering around, so as not to cause trouble for Pei Qinghe.

After an unknown amount of time, the warehouse door was pounded on several times. Pei Qinghe's voice rang out from outside: "It's me, open the door."

Shi Yan rushed over, opened the door, and anxiously looked Pei Qinghe up and down: "Are you injured?"

Pei Qinghe was covered in blood and looked horribly terrifying.

After a day of fighting, Pei Qinghe was a little tired: "I suffered some minor injuries, nothing serious."

On the battlefield, amidst the clash of swords and the din of combat, even the most skilled warrior cannot emerge unscathed. Pei Qinghe was incredibly fortunate to have won this battle with only minor injuries.

Shi Yan said softly, "I'll apply medicine to your wounds."

Pei Qinghe said, "No rush, Pei Yan and Sun Cheng haven't returned yet." He turned around and gave an order, having his men push the bound prisoners into the warehouse, and leaving a team to guard them.

Before dark, Pei Yan, Sun Cheng, and the others returned.

Pei Yan's battalion brought back more than sixty heads, while Sun Cheng's battalion brought back forty or fifty. Tao Feng was stabbed in the back and was helped by Zhou Shi to get medicine. Mao Hongling also suffered minor injuries.

The large quantity of wound medicine that Pei's army had prepared beforehand came in very handy.

Doctor Bao, along with several of his disciples, cleaned, treated, and bandaged the wounded soldiers. Those with particularly severe external injuries needed to be stitched up.

Four years ago, Dr. Bao's hands trembled when he inserted needles. Now, facing a bloody wound, the seasoned Dr. Bao remains calm and methodical, skillfully stitching up the wound with needle and thread. He also directs his apprentices to boil gauze and prepare medicine.

Pei Qinghe returned to her room, and Shi Yan followed her in, taking out a bottle of medicine. Before she could say anything, Pei Yan, with her loud voice, came in: "Qinghe and I will help each other with the medicine, you can leave!"

He hasn't even officially become a son-in-law yet, how could he be qualified to apply medicine for his cousin Qinghe!

Shi Yan had no choice but to get up and leave.

Pei Qinghe glanced at Pei Yan: "Be more polite to Steward Shi."

Pei Yan pouted: "Once he's married into the family, I'll definitely call him brother-in-law politely. Right now, he's not qualified yet!"

Pei Qinghe was both amused and annoyed, and habitually reached out and slapped Pei Yan. Pei Yan winced in pain, crying out, "Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!"

Pei Qinghe then noticed a smear of blood in her palm. Her eyelids twitched, and she said sternly, "Your head is injured! Sit down quickly."

Pei Yan smiled at Pei Qinghe: "It's just some minor injuries, it won't kill me... Don't glare at me, I'll sit down."

Pei Qinghe carefully examined Pei Yan's head injury, confirming it was a superficial wound. She applied Lu's wound medicine, and the bleeding quickly stopped. Pei Yan felt a little dizzy and weak, but otherwise showed no other abnormalities. Pei Qinghe was still worried and asked someone to call Doctor Bao. Doctor Bao rushed over, examined her briefly, and said, "Miss Yan is stronger than an ox; she's only suffered minor injuries. She'll be fine after some rest."

Pei Yan proudly boasted, "I told you it was nothing."

Pei Qinghe finally felt relieved. After applying medicine and bandaging herself, she got up and went out.

Shi Yan, who was guarding outside the door, quickly came over and nervously scanned the room. Pei Qinghe smiled lightly, "Didn't I tell you? My injuries are minor, I'm fine."

Shi Yan sighed softly, "I am not qualified to apply medicine and bandage for Sixth Miss, I can only stay here. Only when I know that Sixth Miss is alright can I feel at ease."

A hint of melancholy crept into his tone.

Pei Qinghe chuckled: "What? Can't wait to become a live-in son-in-law?"

Pei Yan would joke and tease him in private, but Pei Qinghe never responded. This was the first time the term "son-in-law" had been mentioned in a joking tone.

Shi Yan's body trembled slightly as he looked intently at Pei Qinghe: "Yes."

This is Shi Yan.

They have the patience to wait, the composure to protect, and the ability to seize the opportunity to express their feelings.

Pei Qinghe couldn't help but laugh: "I feel like you've been a little uneasy lately."

Shi Yan sighed: "The eldest son of Magistrate Ji is handsome and talented, General Yang's nephew is brave and skilled, and that young master Lu has superb medical skills at a young age and is backed by the Lu family. How can I feel at ease looking at them?"

Pei Qinghe chuckled: "Steward Shi's usual calm and composed demeanor was just an act all along."

Shi Yan smiled, slowly reached out, and only after confirming that Pei Qinghe did not intend to dodge did he gently wipe away the bloodstains on Pei Qinghe's face.

Pei Qinghe asked with a soft laugh, "Are you at ease now?"

Shi Yan's eyes shone with a dazzling light, and the corners of his mouth turned up: "Sixth Miss is only willing to coax me like this, which shows that I am different from others."

Pei Qinghe was amused again: "You've managed to coax yourself quite well."

Shi Yan's eyes were full of smiles, and his voice was gentle: "As long as Sixth Miss has me in her heart, I will be happy to wait no matter how long it takes."

Pei Xuan rushed over with a message: "Cousin Qinghe, Cousin Yun has captured General Lü alive!"

Pei Qinghe's eyes lit up: "I'll go right away."

Pei Xuan led the way, and Pei Qinghe walked quickly ahead. Shi Yan shamelessly followed.

It was already evening, and the sky was ablaze with color, the sunset a riot of color.

Covered in blood, Pei Yun stood in the sunset, her beautiful face shining brightly: "I led nine hundred men to ambush along the official road. Several tripwires were set up along the road."

"General Lü fled in disarray with several hundred personal guards. They rode at breakneck speed, but by the time they discovered the tripwire ahead, it was too late to stop. Many horses were tripped and fell, and some men broke their necks on the spot."

“Our group rushed forward and killed most of them. The rest of them had no choice but to kneel down and beg for mercy if they wanted to live. General Lü didn’t want to die either, so I captured him.”

Pei Yun waved her hand, and two people dragged General Lü over.

(End of this chapter)