Chapter 386: The Twenty-ninth Day in the Struggle for Supremacy World

Chapter 386: Day 29 of Transmigrating into a Hegemon Story

The enemy general's sneer froze on his lips, his eyes filled with disbelief. He made gurgling noises, trying to speak, but only more bloody foam bubbled from his mouth as his massive body crashed backward.

All of this happened in an instant.

An Yi pulled back the ability he'd been using to shield the guards around him, not even a flicker of expression crossing his brow. He just watched Bai Ji, quiet and still.

Watching this young strategist—usually as gentle and refined as jade, but now with blood smeared across his face and eyes fierce and ruthless.

Watching the hand gripping the sword—steady, not a single tremor—yet the knuckles white from the strain.

Watching his chest rise and fall with quick breaths, his pale skin a stark contrast to the blood-soaked lapels of his robe.

An Yi narrowed his eyes. He'd always said Bai Ji had a fine look to him.

Now, all blood-stained like this, he looked even better.

Bai Ji caught his breath, yanked out the short sword, and shot a wary glance outside the carriage. A few stubborn enemies had spotted the gap and came howling in, only to be cut off by the guards.

"My Lord, get behind me!" Bai Ji said urgently, reaching out to tug An Yi back.

But before he could finish, An Yi stood up on his own, gave his hand a reassuring pat, and ducked out of the carriage through the hole.

Outside, the battle was nearing its end.

An Shu's ambush troops and Cha Jiang's guards had joined forces, attacking from both sides, cutting the enemies to pieces until the survivors dropped to their knees and begged for mercy.

The roadblocks were mostly cleared too.

An Yi stood in the middle of the wrecked mountain path, his dark cloak whipping in the wind, which carried the stench of blood.

He swept his gaze over the scene, calm as ever: "What nerve. The Zhou, Yang, and Tian clans actually had the gall to collude with Diezhou and betray us like this!"

With those words, he sealed their fate.

Bai Ji climbed out right behind him, sword in hand, guarding his flank. The blood on his face still unwashed, he watched An Yi's profile, his heartbeat slowly settling.

An Yi felt his gaze and turned to look at him.

He looked at the splatters of blood on his face, at the hand gripping the short sword, knuckles white, at the faint redness at the corners of his eyes from the killing.

Then, An Yi let out a soft laugh.

"Ruzhi, ah, Ruzhi..." An Yi shook his head, his tone teasing: "Look at yourself now—face covered in blood, blade in hand, eyes so fierce you look like you'd eat someone alive. Where's any trace of that refined scholar?"

Bai Ji was caught off guard. He instinctively raised a hand to wipe his face, only to realize his hand was bloody too, freezing mid-motion.

Only then did it hit him how disheveled he must look—showing such a fierce, savage side in front of his lord...

He opened his mouth to explain, but An Yi was already walking off.

Cha Jiang brought over An Yi's horse—that magnificent black steed.

An Yi swung onto the horse, smooth as anything.

From atop the horse, he looked down at Bai Ji, who was still standing there looking lost, and held out his right hand.

"What're you standing around for?" An Yi's voice carried through the mountain wind, clear and casual: "Hop on."

Bai Ji looked up, bewildered, at An Yi's outstretched hand, then at the tall black horse, not quite processing what was going on.

"It's still a ways to Zhuangdong County. The carriage is busted—are we supposed to walk?" An Yi raised an eyebrow, the teasing smile at the corner of his mouth widening.

Bai Ji's mind was spinning, and he shook his head on instinct.

"Then hop on." An Yi's hand reached out further, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Bai Ji's eyes went wide. Ride... ride together? His lord wanted him to... get on? Share a horse with him?

Bai Ji's mind went completely blank. All reason, propriety, self-doubt, and fear—gone in an instant.

Like he was bewitched, he reached out on pure instinct and took An Yi's hand.

An Yi's hand was cool and firm.

A gentle tug.

Bai Ji felt a surge of force, his body lifting, and the next second, he was seated behind An Yi on the broad back of the black horse.

The position was painfully intimate.

An Yi's back was pressed almost completely against his chest, and he could feel the warmth of his body and the steady thump of his heartbeat.

An Yi's arms held the reins, brushing against his own.

That clean, crisp scent belonging to An Yi, mingled with a faint trace of blood and dust, enveloped him completely.

Bai Ji was stiff all over, not daring to move a muscle, even holding his breath.

He felt as if he were sitting on a blazing fire, yet also floating on clouds, nearly dizzying him.

"Sit tight." An Yi's voice came from in front of him, laced with amusement.

The black horse began to move, breaking into a trot.

The jolting of the horse's back made Bai Ji's body involuntarily lean back slightly, and he instinctively wrapped his arms around the waist before him. When he realized what he'd done, his entire body froze.

But... his lord had told him to ride together. Summoning his boldness, he not only refused to let go but held on even tighter.

He lowered his head, his breath brushing against An Yi's hair: "Thank you, my Lord."

"Pfft—"

He clearly heard a very soft laugh from in front of him.

It was An Yi laughing.

A laugh tinged with mischief and amusement.

The mountain wind howled, scattering his laughter, yet carrying it clearly into Bai Ji's ears.

Then, An Yi's voice, still carrying that smile, lowered to a whisper that brushed against Bai Ji's ear like a feather, burrowing into the depths of his heart:

"Are you really that shy, Ruzhi?"

Boom—!!!

Bai Ji felt as if thunder had exploded in his mind!

All the blood rushed to his face, his ears ringing, and after a split-second pause, his heart began to beat at a frantic pace, so violently it felt like it might burst out of his chest!

The Lord... knew!

The Lord really did know about his feelings!

Those times he'd lost his composure, the furtive glances he'd steal every day, the admiration he could barely contain... the Lord knew all of it!

But... but the Lord showed no disgust, kept no distance, offered no reproach.

Instead, right now, in front of everyone, he'd pulled him onto his horse, sharing such an intimate ride!

And in that kind of... almost teasing tone, he'd asked him, "So shy, is that it?"

What did this mean?!

Didn't that mean the Lord didn't disapprove of his feelings? Maybe even... a faint hint of... silent approval?

The inferiority, fear, and anxiety that had haunted him for years were swept away in that moment by a surge of joy!

He had a chance! He really had hope! It wasn't just his own wishful thinking!

The Lord had seen it, knew it, and... responded in this manner!

Joy, excitement, elation—and an urge to shout, to laugh, to wrap his arms tightly around the man in front of him!

He wanted to, and he did.

The corners of his lips curled up in a satisfied smile he couldn't stop.

He tilted his head slightly, letting his cheek brush—barely, almost imperceptibly—against An Yi's hair.

The silky feel of it, mixed with An Yi's warmth, made his heart race.

An Yi glanced down at the arms wrapped tightly around him, said nothing, but seemed to tighten his hold on the reins a little, letting out a soft chuckle.