Chapter 181: You Lost
At this juncture, Murong Ke’s lips gave a smirk under his mask. His eyes glanced behind Wang Hong.
He knew there were many hypocrites among the Jins where infighting was fierce, which meant there could, among the Wang guards, very well be spies sent by other clans. If the spies disclosed what he said, Wang Hong would be in for a bad time no matter his abilities.
The Hu captains stood orderly behind Murong Ke, and in the woods, all the Hu soldiers had organized into groups. They stood their ground, numerous and relentless, no longer the burnt animals they had been.
Wang Hong amusedly watched Murong Ke and unhurriedly voiced, “What kind of person is Murong Ke? I trust that you won’t be a sore loser, will you?”
Murong Ke somehow couldn’t stomach these words. His expression altered as soon as Wang Hong finished.
At this time, Wang Hong leisurely continued: “Prince of Tai’yuan, you have miscalculated. The ones behind me are direct descendents of our clan. If they weren’t, then I really wouldn’t have dared to bring them on this thousand-mile journey to rescue a woman.”
He was explaining to Murong Ke in all seriousness.
Murong Ke’s expression turned more and more unsightly.
Wang Hong was apparently in high spirits. He grinned, “Prince of Tai’yuan, you came to Luo’yang in disguise six years ago to play with me for three days. The results were that you lost to me in chess, in warfare, and even that siege game where you sent fifty guards to play. Even your teacher observed that you’ll never defeat me in your life.”
His sudden mention of the past earned him a harrumph from Murong Ke.
Wang Hong was just a twelve-year-old boy at the time while Murong Ke was an arrogant prodigy whose fame spread far among his clansmen. After encountering Wang Hong in the Central Plains, however, he was handed his defeat time and time again.
He studied military books, practiced martial arts, and thought himself a genius ever since he was little. What gave him the right to easily defeat him, this boy who had an eternal smile on his face and a penchant to care for naught?
After returning home, the more he thought about it the more disgruntled he became, and the more bewildering it felt. Subconsciously, he began to see Wang Hong as his arch enemy; he could never rest as long as this man was still alive. And yet, his clansmen could neither kill all Jin people nor occupy all Jin land.
So he sent men to secretly investigate the identity of the boy and pay close attention to his words and deeds. Nevertheless, Wang Hong who had always hidden his military talent was not known to outsiders. His chance ultimately came in Mo’yang.
He laid siege to the city in order to kill this potential opponent in one fell swoop. He didn’t expect Wang Hong to escape at the last minute.
“I was just a child then,” Wang Hong’s voice continued to sound. “I thought we were simply playing, why won’t you let it go?” After a pause, he sighed, “Murong Ke, to be honest, you’re too petty.”
Even though he was accusing him, Wang Hong continued to smile personably and radiate charm. He was positively graceful and dazzling in his snow-white robe among the soldiers in this wilderness.
His bearing outshone all who were present. Even the Prince of Tai’yuan, Murong Ke, was reduced to a vulgar country brute.
Murong Ke glared at the elegant and nonchalant Wang Hong with a huff. Wang Hong’s amused voice continued: “Dear me, did I startle the Prince of Tai’yuan? I do apologize, my two captains insisted on brandishing their names.” When he said this, the banners with the words Shi and Xuan were given a shake by the soldiers, accompanied by their loud laughter.
The Hu were outraged this time. “Your Highness, we can’t spare him,” someone growled. “It’s one thing to bluff, but how dare he also make jest of us? We won’t tolerate this insult.”
“Your Highness, please let me go at him.”
“Your Highness, we cannot let him get off lightly.”
In the midst of these appeals, Wang Hong was still grinning at Murong Ke.
Murong Ke warily drew his lips into a line. The more Wang Hong made no secrets about his plans, the less he believed him.
“What do our scouts say?” yelled Murong Ke.
“… The scouts have not returned, Your Highness.”
“You are needlessly worried, my prince,” a captain said to him. “Look behind the Jins: it’s completely empty. Clearly there is no ambush.”
“Shut up.”
Murong Ke coldly glared at him and replied, “Wang Hong is cunning and he’s got Ran Min behind him. We’ll wait for our scouts to return with their reports.” Not to mention, his two thousand men may not necessarily gain victory against Wang Hong.
“Aye.”
Murong Ke turned his head and stared at Wang Hong.
When he glanced over at Chen Rong he could perceive her bowing her head and shrinking away.
Her behavior was completely different from the fearlessness she previously flaunted in front of him.
Murong Ke stilled and blinked, his eyes slowly darkening.
Chen Rong could feel his eyes on her.
She didn’t want him to pay attention to her. In fact, she was anxious to get far away from these Hu… She was kept with Murong Ke for a long time, and even now her clothes were torn. Her reputation may have been of the promiscuous sort, but that did not mean she wanted her innocence to be questioned.
She didn’t want Wang Hong to doubt her.
Wang Hong looked down when he saw her curling into herself.
“It’s alright,” he gently told her.
Chen Rong looked up.
Facing her bewildered eyes, Wang Hong softly smiled and said, “It’s all in the past, I won’t let others criticize you.”
I won’t let others criticize you.
I won’t let others criticize you.
Chen Rong’s lips quivered as her eyes turned red. “I wasn’t…” she croaked. “I had persuaded him to let me keep my dignity.”
She felt choked up, bitter, but more than that – elated. With a downcast gaze, she murmured, “I really wasn’t, really.”
It had been a long time since she was last compelled to explain herself to him this seriously and wholeheartedly. As if he was the only one in her heart, as if his faith in her or lack thereof would determine her fate…
Wang Hong froze. He held her closer, his voice a little choked up: “I know you weren’t.” He looked skyward and murmured, “Since I’ve come to save you, then I won’t care about that.”
Chen Rong looked up upon hearing these words. What she saw was his beautiful chin.
At this time, Murong Ke’s sneering voice arrived: “How sweet of you.” For whatever reason, his lips moved but he swallowed back his next words.
Wang Hong turned around in surprise. He quietly stared at Murong Ke. At this moment, a captain stepped out from behind Murong Ke, pointed at Chen Rong and piped, “Sure enough Wang Qilang cares for this woman. It’s too bad that she…”
Before he could finish, Wang Hong made a cut in the air and interrupted him with a proud, disdainful demeanor.
“You lost,” said Wang Hong after turning his head to look at Murong Ke.
“Murong Ke, you lost again.”
After uttering these words, Wang Hong watched Murong Ke whose eyes could spew fire, gave a laugh and ordered his men to retreat.
His knights slowly departed.
The Hu troops looked on as more than a thousand riders pulled farther away in the midst of billowing dust. In reality, the overworked Hu may not successfully thwart the Wang army even if Wang Hong did not ambush them.
When the Hu troops finally awoke from their anger, more than a thousand Wang guards were disappearing before their eyes.
Gradually, their figures vanished in the woods leaving behind only desolate fields.
Murong Ke made a fist and punched behind him, making the branches shake violently. He gritted his teeth and growled, “That blustering bastard.”
How loathsome that he deliberately came here to laugh at him.
Hearing his growl, a Hu captain murmured, “If he’s this angry, why didn’t His Highness use that woman to provoke him?”
He was not very loud, and Murong Ke did not hear him.
This translation belongs to hamster428.
Chen Rong couldn’t believe what was happening. Did Wang Hong retreat upon a simple declaration?
At this time, a guard approached him and whispered, “Why did we retreat, m’lord? We haven’t implemented our plans.”
Wang Hong looked down.
In his arms, an exhausted Chen Rong was unable to lift her eyes. “Just because,” he lightly said, stroking her hair.
His men were used to hearing such an answer, however arbitrary it was. The guards glanced at one another then at Chen Rong, and stopped talking.
Chen Rong was the only one who suddenly relaxed when Wang Hong ordered the withdrawal, as if a boulder had been lifted from her shoulders.
Her relief opened the gate to fatigue and sleepiness.
But she didn’t want to sleep.
She looked at the pure, white robe in front of her and listened to him saying: “Just because.” Unknowingly, her eyes reddened again.
Smart as he was, he didn’t want her to be questioned or hurt by other people…
Chen Rong clutched his lapels.
A slender hand reached out.
It gently pried each of her fingers before enclosing them in its palm
Chapter 181: You Lost
At this juncture, Murong Ke’s lips gave a smirk under his mask. His eyes glanced behind Wang Hong.
He knew there were many hypocrites among the Jins where infighting was fierce, which meant there could, among the Wang guards, very well be spies sent by other clans. If the spies disclosed what he said, Wang Hong would be in for a bad time no matter his abilities.
The Hu captains stood orderly behind Murong Ke, and in the woods, all the Hu soldiers had organized into groups. They stood their ground, numerous and relentless, no longer the burnt animals they had been.
Wang Hong amusedly watched Murong Ke and unhurriedly voiced, “What kind of person is Murong Ke? I trust that you won’t be a sore loser, will you?”
Murong Ke somehow couldn’t stomach these words. His expression altered as soon as Wang Hong finished.
At this time, Wang Hong leisurely continued: “Prince of Tai’yuan, you have miscalculated. The ones behind me are direct descendents of our clan. If they weren’t, then I really wouldn’t have dared to bring them on this thousand-mile journey to rescue a woman.”
He was explaining to Murong Ke in all seriousness.
Murong Ke’s expression turned more and more unsightly.
Wang Hong was apparently in high spirits. He grinned, “Prince of Tai’yuan, you came to Luo’yang in disguise six years ago to play with me for three days. The results were that you lost to me in chess, in warfare, and even that siege game where you sent fifty guards to play. Even your teacher observed that you’ll never defeat me in your life.”
His sudden mention of the past earned him a harrumph from Murong Ke.
Wang Hong was just a twelve-year-old boy at the time while Murong Ke was an arrogant prodigy whose fame spread far among his clansmen. After encountering Wang Hong in the Central Plains, however, he was handed his defeat time and time again.
He studied military books, practiced martial arts, and thought himself a genius ever since he was little. What gave him the right to easily defeat him, this boy who had an eternal smile on his face and a penchant to care for naught?
After returning home, the more he thought about it the more disgruntled he became, and the more bewildering it felt. Subconsciously, he began to see Wang Hong as his arch enemy; he could never rest as long as this man was still alive. And yet, his clansmen could neither kill all Jin people nor occupy all Jin land.
So he sent men to secretly investigate the identity of the boy and pay close attention to his words and deeds. Nevertheless, Wang Hong who had always hidden his military talent was not known to outsiders. His chance ultimately came in Mo’yang.
He laid siege to the city in order to kill this potential opponent in one fell swoop. He didn’t expect Wang Hong to escape at the last minute.
“I was just a child then,” Wang Hong’s voice continued to sound. “I thought we were simply playing, why won’t you let it go?” After a pause, he sighed, “Murong Ke, to be honest, you’re too petty.”
Even though he was accusing him, Wang Hong continued to smile personably and radiate charm. He was positively graceful and dazzling in his snow-white robe among the soldiers in this wilderness.
His bearing outshone all who were present. Even the Prince of Tai’yuan, Murong Ke, was reduced to a vulgar country brute.
Murong Ke glared at the elegant and nonchalant Wang Hong with a huff. Wang Hong’s amused voice continued: “Dear me, did I startle the Prince of Tai’yuan? I do apologize, my two captains insisted on brandishing their names.” When he said this, the banners with the words Shi and Xuan were given a shake by the soldiers, accompanied by their loud laughter.
The Hu were outraged this time. “Your Highness, we can’t spare him,” someone growled. “It’s one thing to bluff, but how dare he also make jest of us? We won’t tolerate this insult.”
“Your Highness, please let me go at him.”
“Your Highness, we cannot let him get off lightly.”
In the midst of these appeals, Wang Hong was still grinning at Murong Ke.
Murong Ke warily drew his lips into a line. The more Wang Hong made no secrets about his plans, the less he believed him.
“What do our scouts say?” yelled Murong Ke.
“… The scouts have not returned, Your Highness.”
“You are needlessly worried, my prince,” a captain said to him. “Look behind the Jins: it’s completely empty. Clearly there is no ambush.”
“Shut up.”
Murong Ke coldly glared at him and replied, “Wang Hong is cunning and he’s got Ran Min behind him. We’ll wait for our scouts to return with their reports.” Not to mention, his two thousand men may not necessarily gain victory against Wang Hong.
“Aye.”
Murong Ke turned his head and stared at Wang Hong.
When he glanced over at Chen Rong he could perceive her bowing her head and shrinking away.
Her behavior was completely different from the fearlessness she previously flaunted in front of him.
Murong Ke stilled and blinked, his eyes slowly darkening.
Chen Rong could feel his eyes on her.
She didn’t want him to pay attention to her. In fact, she was anxious to get far away from these Hu… She was kept with Murong Ke for a long time, and even now her clothes were torn. Her reputation may have been of the promiscuous sort, but that did not mean she wanted her innocence to be questioned.
She didn’t want Wang Hong to doubt her.
Wang Hong looked down when he saw her curling into herself.
“It’s alright,” he gently told her.
Chen Rong looked up.
Facing her bewildered eyes, Wang Hong softly smiled and said, “It’s all in the past, I won’t let others criticize you.”
I won’t let others criticize you.
I won’t let others criticize you.
Chen Rong’s lips quivered as her eyes turned red. “I wasn’t…” she croaked. “I had persuaded him to let me keep my dignity.”
She felt choked up, bitter, but more than that – elated. With a downcast gaze, she murmured, “I really wasn’t, really.”
It had been a long time since she was last compelled to explain herself to him this seriously and wholeheartedly. As if he was the only one in her heart, as if his faith in her or lack thereof would determine her fate…
Wang Hong froze. He held her closer, his voice a little choked up: “I know you weren’t.” He looked skyward and murmured, “Since I’ve come to save you, then I won’t care about that.”
Chen Rong looked up upon hearing these words. What she saw was his beautiful chin.
At this time, Murong Ke’s sneering voice arrived: “How sweet of you.” For whatever reason, his lips moved but he swallowed back his next words.
Wang Hong turned around in surprise. He quietly stared at Murong Ke. At this moment, a captain stepped out from behind Murong Ke, pointed at Chen Rong and piped, “Sure enough Wang Qilang cares for this woman. It’s too bad that she…”
Before he could finish, Wang Hong made a cut in the air and interrupted him with a proud, disdainful demeanor.
“You lost,” said Wang Hong after turning his head to look at Murong Ke.
“Murong Ke, you lost again.”
After uttering these words, Wang Hong watched Murong Ke whose eyes could spew fire, gave a laugh and ordered his men to retreat.
His knights slowly departed.
The Hu troops looked on as more than a thousand riders pulled farther away in the midst of billowing dust. In reality, the overworked Hu may not successfully thwart the Wang army even if Wang Hong did not ambush them.
When the Hu troops finally awoke from their anger, more than a thousand Wang guards were disappearing before their eyes.
Gradually, their figures vanished in the woods leaving behind only desolate fields.
Murong Ke made a fist and punched behind him, making the branches shake violently. He gritted his teeth and growled, “That blustering bastard.”
How loathsome that he deliberately came here to laugh at him.
Hearing his growl, a Hu captain murmured, “If he’s this angry, why didn’t His Highness use that woman to provoke him?”
He was not very loud, and Murong Ke did not hear him.
This translation belongs to hamster428.
Chen Rong couldn’t believe what was happening. Did Wang Hong retreat upon a simple declaration?
At this time, a guard approached him and whispered, “Why did we retreat, m’lord? We haven’t implemented our plans.”
Wang Hong looked down.
In his arms, an exhausted Chen Rong was unable to lift her eyes. “Just because,” he lightly said, stroking her hair.
His men were used to hearing such an answer, however arbitrary it was. The guards glanced at one another then at Chen Rong, and stopped talking.
Chen Rong was the only one who suddenly relaxed when Wang Hong ordered the withdrawal, as if a boulder had been lifted from her shoulders.
Her relief opened the gate to fatigue and sleepiness.
But she didn’t want to sleep.
She looked at the pure, white robe in front of her and listened to him saying: “Just because.” Unknowingly, her eyes reddened again.
Smart as he was, he didn’t want her to be questioned or hurt by other people…
Chen Rong clutched his lapels.
A slender hand reached out.
It gently pried each of her fingers before enclosing them in its palm
