Rejected Beauty Practices the Villain Play
Chapter 209 Won

Chapter 209: Chapter 209 Won

On Xiyanshan, before losing consciousness, she longed to see Xie Xun. She desperately wanted to see him. If she were to die on Xiyanshan, she would have spent her entire life never responding to Xie Xun’s love.

Fengyu thought, she would die with regret!

So she secretly prayed to the heavens: if she were lucky enough to survive, she would accept him.

The heavens showed mercy; she truly survived.

Fengyu thought, since she had already made a vow to the divine, her words should be honored. Love and fear intertwined, she had received love, enough to combat the fear.

"Because you... you are Xie Xun!"

When her soft voice uttered his name, there was a captivating lilt that seduced his very soul. Xie Xun was bewitched, leaned down, and kissed her.

Fengyu was momentarily stunned, but her hands uncontrollably wrapped around his waist.

Qiuxiang was so anxious she nearly jumped up. Surveying the surroundings for fear of someone seeing them, she wanted to rush forward and break up their intimacy, but Chunlu stopped her. Qiuxiang fumed in annoyance, "Is this how your master behaves when he visits brothels, teasing women?"

Feiying replied with stoic seriousness, "My master has never been intimate with anyone."

"Oh, but naturally, he’s a quick study, isn’t he?"

Feiying, "..."

Nuanyang couldn’t help but stifle a laugh. Sister Qiuxiang’s bravery was growing by the day.

The fiery heat of their intimate closeness coursed through his body. Xie Xun felt an unprecedented surge of passion, fearing he might lose control and transform into a beast, so he hastily released Fengyu.

Fengyu’s mind went blank from the kiss, submissive to his every demand. Her reddened eyes glimmered faintly with moisture. Xie Xun sighed hoarsely, "So obedient..."

Obedient enough to make him want to seize her and thoroughly ravish her.

Fengyu bit her lip, feeling both shame and frustration. She broke free from his embrace. Xie Xun watched as she jumped away like a frightened rabbit, a gentle smile gracing his face.

Suddenly, mountain winds swept through the forest, the ground trembled, as though something was about to swarm out of the woods. Xie Xun crouched to the ground, sensing vibrations coming from the earth.

A thunderous boom erupted from the forest. The ground shook violently, storm clouds coiled, trees cracked and fell. Xie Xun stood swiftly and commanded hastily, "Fengyu, stay where you are!"

He curled his fingers and blew a sharp whistle, summoning Zhuifeng. Mounting the horse in one fluid motion, he galloped toward the woods. Feiying and Nuanyang followed closely. Standing on the hillside, Fengyu watched the three figures vanish into the distance.

What was happening?

Near the woods, Xie Xun reined his horse to a halt. He could not enter the forest due to hunting regulations. Zhuifeng seemed to sense his master’s tension and neighed urgently at the forest’s edge. Hoofbeats thundered, disorganized and frantic, approaching from afar. Riding a black steed through the snowy woods came Xie Jue. Upon seeing Zhuifeng, he let out a hoarse cry.

"Second Brother!" Xie Xun spurred his horse forward. Just as Xie Jue collapsed from his saddle, unconscious, Xie Xun dismounted swiftly but was unable to catch him in time. Xie Jue fell to the ground, his azure tunic soaked in blood, his pale face etched with crimson gashes. Xie Xun’s eyes burned with rage as he rushed to lift him, pressing two fingers against Xie Jue’s neck. He could feel a faint pulse. "Second Brother..."

It was the first time Xie Xun had seen Xie Jue so frail, teetering on the edge of life. Even when he returned alone from Beiman, he hadn’t been so defeated.

"Feiying, summon Zhang Lingzheng!" Xie Xun no longer cared about the hunting competition. If his Second Brother could survive, then the prize of thirty thousand scarlet-armored soldiers meant nothing—not at all!

"Yes!" Feiying quickly rode off.

A crimson flare shot up from the forest, exploding in the sky. It was Fang Chuning’s signal; he had successfully hunted a spotted deer.

And the signal was close to the forest edge. Xie Xun’s thoughts had barely formed when Fang Chuning, drenched in blood, emerged from the woods carrying a spotted deer on his shoulder. In his other hand, he held a sword, limping heavily.

Xie Xun felt at a loss for words to describe Fang Chuning. His azure robe was stained red, his entire being radiating hostility, as if he had just waded out of a pool of blood—both grotesque and breathtakingly fierce. His left shoulder bore the spotted deer, yet his eyebrows, usually graced with a faint smile, flashed with lethal ferocity, coupled with a steely resilience that defied any storm.

Dugu Jing burst out of the woods, leaping forward and roaring as he swung his blade toward Fang Chuning’s back. Xie Xun, releasing Xie Jue, drew his sword to intercept, blocking the overwhelming killing intent head-on.

Xie Xun spoke harshly, "Dugu Jing, the hunt is over! Accept your loss!"

Dugu Jing gathered strength in his torso, his curved blade pressing downward ferociously. The blade and sword nearly bore down onto Xie Xun’s shoulder before he kicked Dugu Jing and shouted, "Beiman cannot afford to lose, can it?"

A loud crash sounded behind him. Turning his head, Xie Xun saw Fang Chuning falling to the ground. The spotted deer rolled a short distance away. Fang Chuning, braced on hands and knees, staggered toward Xie Jue.

"Ting Feng..."

His azure robe was nearly soaked through with blood, two arrows embedded in his back—one still lodged deeply in his flesh. Nuanyang attempted to help him up, only for Fang Chuning to wave her off. His hand merely gripped Xie Jue’s before his strength evaporated, and he lost consciousness. It seemed all his determination had been used simply to reach his side. Xie Xun dared not delay further. Leaving Nuanyang to guard behind, he placed Fang Chuning and Xie Jue together atop his horse, and galloped towards the camp.

Winning or losing no longer mattered at this point!

Behind him, Dugu Jing watched their retreating figures in defeat. Just a bit more... just a little bit more! Xie Jue had planted explosives in the forest, injuring them all.

Fang Chuning’s back bore two arrows. When the arrowheads were removed, blood surged uncontrollably. His fever refused to break and his condition was perilous. Xie Jue’s state was even grimmer.

The Emperor Jianming and Crown Prince were both alarmed.

Judge Zhang knelt in the tent and confessed, "The Second Young Master’s eyes have been poisoned and treatment delayed. Even if the poison is removed, I fear... I fear that..."

"What will happen?" Marquis Zhenbei appeared calm, but his body was as rigid as stone.

"The Second Young Master’s eyes may be beyond saving."

Marquis Zhenbei was struck as if by lightning. This man, valiant in battle and unyielding in spirit, turned red-eyed, his back suddenly hunched and aged a decade in an instant.

Unable to see, akin to a cripple. From now on, he would be unable to join the military, confined to the Capital City as a rich and idle man.

Emperor Jianming felt anguish and fury. "Use any means necessary to heal Xie Jue’s eyes. If you fail, I’ll have your heads!"

Judge Zhang, leading over ten Imperial Physicians, knelt and begged forgiveness. Every Imperial Physician had examined Xie Jue, but the poison had penetrated deeply into his bones and blood, damaging his eyeballs beyond any remedy.

Marquis Zhenbei said not a word and swept aside the tent flap as he left. Emperor Jianming stared at his retreating figure, tongue-tied, while the Crown Prince lowered his gaze in silent thought.

Just outside the tent, Marchioness slapped Marquis Zhenbei hard across the face. Her eyes, red with fury, she scolded, "I told you long ago, don’t let Ting Feng participate in the hunting competition! But you wouldn’t listen. Have you enjoyed winning the scarlet-armored soldiers at the cost of Ting Feng’s sight?"

"Mother, calm your anger..." Xie Zhang and Xie Xun stood beside their mother outside the tent. Having heard Judge Zhang’s words crystal clear, Marchioness knew her husband and sons had done everything for the soldiers of Yanyang. As the mistress of the Marquis Mansion, she had to sympathize with her husband and the soldiers.

Her husband and sons charged into battle, while she stayed far away in the Capital City, unable to sleep at night. Her prayers and charms covered every blooming peach tree in the garden. She always begged the heavens to let her husband and sons return safe and triumphant.

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