ATLAS TRANSLATES

“Lieutenant Lu…”

General Wei Cong’s boisterous voice suddenly appeared, then abruptly retreated.

Still somewhat shy, Luo Lingyu felt especially embarrassed when she realized they had been seen. She backed away, covering her mouth with the back of her hand, refusing to kiss anymore. Her eyes were moist, containing a misty layer like fog, about to fall but not quite. The flames flickered again on the water, sparks splashing in the watery light.

She looked so beautiful like this.

Lu Yun wasn’t necessarily entranced – he had just returned from battle after all, both mentally and physically exhausted. When Luo Lingyu backed away, he didn’t stop her. But when he lifted his eyelashes and glanced at her wet eyes, his heart suddenly felt empty, as if he had lost his soul.

Though Lu Yun’s face still carried traces of coldness, when the young lady started to retreat, he reached out to support the back of her head, pulling her back into his embrace. He lowered his head to kiss her again.

Suddenly passionate.

The temperature between their lips and tongues suddenly rose.

Luo Lingyu pounded his shoulders, trying to get him to release her: “Mmph!”

Lu Yun kept his eyes closed as the firelight illuminated his face, casting shadows under his eyelashes. Though his face remained somewhat pale, his heart had grown warm. His sudden surge of deep emotion and the burning heat between their lips and teeth nearly made Luo Lingyu suffocate—

What had gotten into him?!

The firelight was dim and the candlelight weak. At night, the strong wind crashed against the iron horses, horse gear, weapon racks and other items, creating constant clanging sounds. Whether near or far, the soldiers’ cheers, drinking games, and drunken nonsense all carried over clearly. In other parts of the camp, there were patrolling soldiers in twos and threes. A lantern lay by an antique-styled saddle on the ground, nearly stepped on by a passing patrol.

Nearby came constant cursing.

In the brightly lit distance, strong wine was being poured as they feasted to celebrate the battle, with the main dishes being served. Performers wearing masks and elaborate clothing danced and sang before the soldiers, pushing everyone’s victorious spirits to their peak. Entertainment was scarce in the military camp. The singers drew from real experiences, sitting cross-legged on the ground, striking their chopsticks as they sang:

“Picking cattails, picking cattails, the cattails are done growing. Speaking of return, speaking of return, but the year is not yet done.

No home, no house, all because of the Xianyun. No time to settle down, all because of the Xianyun…”

All of that gradually grew distant. All that remained before her eyes was her lord’s peaceful downturned face. His features were so clear and bright, his temperament as open as mountains and waters – how could one’s heart not flutter? Luo Lingyu was momentarily dazed by his kiss, her hands trembling as they clutched his clothes at the shoulders. Then she heard his hoarse voice as he sucked on her lips: “I thought I would never see you again…”

Luo Lingyu’s pupils constricted, her heart suddenly struck, struck until her spirit scattered, her heart aching—

That’s right, her future husband had a death curse on him.

Someone who knew they could die at any moment, someone who never showed it. He always appeared composed and in control, his expression deceiving, making her think he must have everything planned out, making her forget about the curse on him.

But deep inside, Lu Yun must be afraid too, right?

Luo Lingyu’s eyes grew hot, her heart crumpling like paper soaked in water. She suddenly hugged his neck tightly, her body passionately meeting his. Originally he had been calmly holding the back of her head as he kissed her, but when she pressed forward to be intimate with him, not only did she bury herself completely in his embrace, she also pushed him backwards.

Who cared if anyone else saw them now!

Almost impatiently, she tightly hugged his young, vigorous shoulders and back. The hay stack was soft, and Lu Yun was truly pushed down. He was surprised too, raising an eyebrow before letting out a muffled laugh. There was some indulgence and teasing in it, as if he hadn’t expected his little Lingyu to be so brave.

Lu Yun was pushed back onto the hay stack, the sash at his waist becoming disheveled from their interaction. During their bold and passionate embrace, the kisses moved to his neck. When the young lady tremblingly took his Adam’s apple between her lips and lightly licked it, she felt his body suddenly shake as his throat released an extremely hoarse groan.

Lu Yun’s voice was soul-stirringly husky: “Lingyu… continue…”

The young man’s neck suddenly arched high, the blood vessels beneath becoming visible. His long neck, his prominent and beautiful Adam’s apple, his hands suddenly gripping her waist tightly… Lu Yun’s body was burning hot as he pressed her towards him, his hands uncontrollably caressing her. Those movements that were usually so composed and indifferent were now full of anxiety and frustration.

Urgent.

Luo Lingyu was surprised by his reaction, her face growing hot from his actions. She had never seen what a beautiful man looked like when consumed by desire, had never seen Lu Yun like this when sober… So this was how he reacted when his neck was kissed.

It made her face flush red.

In their pushing and pulling, their clothes became disheveled. Luo Lingyu felt both delighted and embarrassed. Her hands rested on their pressed-together chests, and when he caressed her, she didn’t know how she was responding to him in her desperation. She almost felt like they would consummate things right here, feeling both scared and excited by that thought. But suddenly, Luo Lingyu’s hand touched somewhere – she wasn’t sure where – and felt her lord’s body tremble and stiffen beneath her touch. He let out a muffled groan and instinctively flinched backward.

Not from excitement.

But from pain.

Luo Lingyu suddenly became clear-headed: “Brother Xuechen, what’s wrong?”

Lu Yun casually grabbed her hand, preventing her from touching him further. His lips pressed against her clear collarbone as he chuckled softly: “Brother is just feeling pleasure.”

How could Luo Lingyu be so easily fooled: “Lu Yun!”

She pushed away his face that was buried in the hollow of her shoulder, widening her eyes to look at the slight sweat on his forehead and his face that, though flushed with desire, still had a ghostly paleness to it. Luo Lingyu immediately became serious, her hands feeling around his waist: “You’re injured, aren’t you?! Where are you hurt? Are you hiding it from me? Lu Yun!”

Lu Yun’s face showed slight displeasure.

Yet he still maintained a smile, continuing to pull her into his embrace as he said vaguely: “I’m not injured. On such a beautiful night, why must sister spoil the mood?”

Luo Lingyu raised her head to look at him, her eyes shimmering like scattered starlight on a lake, swaying and mesmerizing.

Lu Yun: “…”

Even though he knew in his heart that she might not be as upset as she appeared, being stared at accusingly by the young lady with eyes that said “you lied to me”, “I’m so hurt”, and “Lu Yun is a jerk” – even someone as cold-hearted as Lu Yun couldn’t help but pause. He turned his face slightly, quite embarrassed — he was really not used to being led around by a young woman.

Luo Lingyu knew well that she couldn’t truly anger Lu Yun, after all, they weren’t married yet. If things got too heated, what if he decided not to marry her? To handle an arrogant and aloof man like Lu Yun, one had to proceed step by step.

Luo Lingyu put all her knowledge of captivating men to use on Lu Yun.

So when she saw a hint of displeasure on his face, she tremblingly and weakly wrapped her arms around his neck, pressed close to him, and began to whimper.

Lu Yun: “…”

Luo Lingyu choked with sobs: “I worry so much about you, if you’re eating and dressing well, thinking about you all day. I care about everything concerning you. The military camp environment is so terrible, why do you think I stay here? It’s all to help you. I spend every day moving among smelly men, seeing blood, giving injections. I’m so scared…”

Lu Yun: “…”

He had to give in to Luo Lingyu.

The young lord smiled helplessly: “Alright, alright, I’ve wronged you, made you suffer. Your work in the military camp isn’t because you fear South Yang City will fall, not to build a good reputation, not for whatever remaining sense of justice in your heart – it’s all for me. It’s me, it’s me, it’s all because of me, causing sister Lingyu to end up in such a state. So wronged, crying and sobbing, look, even your nose has turned red from crying…”

Luo Lingyu’s face reddened at his words that were both teasing and mocking. When he lowered his head to kiss her again and pinch her cheeks, she broke into laughter through her tears.

Luo Lingyu: “So were you injured or not?!”

Lu Yun hesitated for a moment, then nodded: “I was injured a bit, but it’s not serious.”

When he said it wasn’t serious, Luo Lingyu didn’t believe him at all. She insisted on pulling at him, wanting to see clearly. After much back and forth between them, perhaps because Lu Yun was tired, or perhaps because he truly liked Luo Lingyu, when she pulled him up and demanded to return to the tent to examine his injuries, Lu Yun couldn’t refuse anymore and gave in. Neither of them attended the evening banquet, instead returning to Lu Yun’s tent where Luo Lingyu eagerly urged him to remove his clothes.

Lu Yun glanced at her sideways: “Do you know no shame? I’ve never seen a woman so eager to undress a young lord.”

Luo Lingyu: “Brother Xuechen, at a time like this, can you stop trying to provoke me with your words?”

Her beautiful eyes flashed as she shot him a reproachful look. Lu Yun lowered his head and smiled, really unable to delay any longer. He had no choice but to kneel on the couch under Luo Lingyu’s gaze and slowly begin to undo his belt. With broad shoulders and a narrow waist, after removing his outer garment and undoing his belt, his unhurried movements were like a casual stroll or a night orchid blooming alone – extremely alluring.

Luo Lingyu was still younger after all. Even though they had already been intimate, when he glanced at her, she still couldn’t help feeling uncomfortable. Her eyes darted around, somewhat afraid to look.

However, these amorous feelings disappeared when he removed his upper garment and Luo Lingyu saw the sword and knife wounds on his chest and back. Though not severe enough to require bandaging, and insignificant compared to other men who had been to battle, but still… Lu Yun was much more handsome than other men, and having wounds on him was like a bright pearl being covered in dust – most disappointing.

Luo Lingyu stared at the wounds on his shoulders and back, checking them over and over, using all the medical knowledge she had learned, and found they were indeed minor wounds. She couldn’t help feeling disappointed: “Is that all?”

Lu Yun glanced at her: “From your tone, it seems you’d prefer me to be bedridden with serious injuries?”

Luo Lingyu’s face reddened: “Of course not!”

She had just thought from his earlier reluctant reaction that his injuries must be extremely severe, affecting his vital meridians, which was why he didn’t want to tell her. Luo Lingyu had been full of worry, already guessing that Lu Yun might have an incurable illness, wondering what she would do if she had to support him for the rest of his life…

Her heart was tangled, partly dreading Lu Yun dumping the responsibility on her, partly unable to bear leaving him. Luo Lingyu had nearly scared herself to death, only to find that Lu Yun’s injuries were truly as he said – not serious.

Just like small cuts from carelessly shaving his face.

Feeling disappointed, Luo Lingyu forced herself to cheer up: “Let me apply some medicine for you.”

Lu Yun pointed, and she retrieved the ointment from where he indicated, returning to apply it. He wore only his middle pants, his upper body bare, his slim frame containing strength like a sword capable of cleaving mountains. His muscle and bone lines flowed smoothly, like fine silk draped over a curling dragon, connected and majestic, mountain ranges rising and falling, all leading down to his narrow waist and hips.

Luo Lingyu’s hands pressed against him.

Lu Yun looked over at her.

The young lady said angrily: “Why are you looking at me like that? I’m applying medicine for you, I’m not looking or touching inappropriately. What’s with that expression, like you want to laugh but aren’t?”

Lu Yun chuckled lightly: “I haven’t said anything.”

Luo Lingyu: “You haven’t said it, but it’s written all over your face. Again thinking I’m being presumptuous and blinded by desire… hmph, with such a high and mighty attitude, you deserve…”

Lu Yun suddenly interrupted her, speaking gently: “Sister Lingyu must have thought a lot just now? Did you think about what you would do if I were truly gravely injured or had an incurable illness?” He reached out to hook her hair, twirling it around his fingers, smiling slightly as he looked down at her, his tone coaxing: “You thought about it, didn’t you?”

Luo Lingyu was silent for a moment: “Brother Xuechen, it’s best not to test love during peaceful times.”

Lu Yun’s pupils contracted sharply, his expression pausing for a moment before he smiled and pulled her waist, drawing her into his embrace to kiss her: “Sister Lingyu speaks truly, I was wrong. Better not to test it, brother will just love you well for a lifetime…”

His kisses were gentle, full of tenderness, successfully making Luo Lingyu soft as water again as she hugged his waist. When her hands touched his warm skin and the cool ointment, she could barely spare a thought: ah, she hadn’t finished applying medicine for Brother Xuechen yet.

Luo Lingyu struggled: “No, no, no…”

Lu Yun was displeased: Why another “no”?

Luo Lingyu said haltingly: “Don’t touch your wounds…”

Lu Yun paused for a moment, the light in his eyes growing gentle as he said hoarsely: “It’s fine. I’m not afraid of pressure, the wounds aren’t serious. Lingyu, Lingyu…” His long fingers stroked her hair, pressing neither too light nor too heavy. He concealed his emotions, making himself controlled and calm. He maintained that degree of control, though his body was already trembling with heat. On the surface, he was still just kissing and embracing her.

Lu Yun murmured: “Lingyu… with important matters of state ahead, is it inappropriate for me to indulge in romance and intimate matters?”

Luo Lingyu was panting and whimpering softly from his kisses, her body curling up like a cat. When she opened her wet eyes to answer, she realized Lu Yun wasn’t really expecting an answer. Lu Yun muttered to himself: “Let me indulge then, the state isn’t mine anyway. I won’t take you, I’ll just kiss and touch you…”

He couldn’t lose her.

But that death curse, that death curse… made his eyes darken with anxiety.

Meanwhile, Luo Lingyu was pressed against the bed as he kissed her, feeling his uneasy emotions that seemed like they were being suppressed by a volcano. A brief confusion flashed through her mind – the soldiers had all told her that the Lieutenant wouldn’t engage in battle unless absolutely necessary, so how did Lu Yun get these wounds? Were they related to his current emotional state?