Section 048: The God of War, Qin Shubao

With the unwavering loyalty of his fiancée as his inspiration, the mouse fought ever more bravely on the battlefield. It was not long before the fires of war were extinguished, the shameless villainous mice were purged, and they were sent to the guillotine. Then, together, he and his beloved returned to their homeland and lived a life of happiness.

Yet the mysterious hand of fate once again pulled them into an endless abyss. Not long after their return, during an outing, the two mice fell from a precipice a thousand fathoms high.

“What a tragic tale,” sighed Lu Rou with infinite sorrow, her heart utterly broken for the two pitiable mice.

“But what follows is more heartrending still,” Li Dong said heavily. “As they fell from the cliff, the she-mouse instinctively burrowed beneath her mate, using her own flesh and blood to shield him from the force of the descent.”

“How moving! What happened to them afterward?” Lu Rou asked eagerly.

“The mate suffered only minor injuries and survived, but found himself in a world he had never seen before. The fate of the she-mouse was unknown—her whereabouts a mystery. Her beloved swore to find his fiancée, living or dead.”

“Falling from such a height—surely she would shatter into pieces!” Lu Rou fretted.

“At first, her mate thought just as you do. But then he realized, since he had inexplicably arrived in a strange new land, perhaps his fiancée had too. That is why he resolved to search every corner of the world, sparing no effort, to find the she-mouse who had given everything for him.” Having finished the story long buried in his heart, Li Dong’s mood plummeted.

Noticing the change in his expression, Lu Rou comforted him gently: “That she-mouse was truly magnificent. Don’t grieve. Goodness is always rewarded. I am sure the mate will find her, and they will marry, have children, and grow old together.”

Li Dong nodded, then asked, “On his journey to find his fiancée, the mate met another beautiful girl. She was naturally gentle and considerate, and treated him with great kindness. Do you think he should marry this lovely mouse?”

Lu Rou was troubled. To accept a new love seemed disloyal to the missing fiancée; yet to refuse her was also unjust. Was the mate to live in loneliness for the rest of his days if he could not find his fiancée? Did he not deserve care? Having already been cruelly separated from his beloved, was it not understandable for him to accept the comfort of a newcomer and soothe his shattered heart?

“If I were the newcomer,” Lu Rou said wistfully, “I would comfort him with all the kindness in my heart, so he would never feel alone again. I would tell him that with me by his side, he could greet each day with a glad heart and draw strength to continue searching for his fiancée.”

Li Dong had expected Lu Rou to say this; it was why he had told her the story of his past life before crossing over. Though he could not yet reveal that he himself was the mate in the tale, he knew that one day he would tell her and ask for her understanding. Until he found Dang Yuqian, no one else could enter his heart.

If Dang Yuqian had not done so much for him, so much that moved both heaven and earth, he would have taken Lu Rou as his wife long ago, without waiting for these idle months. Li Dong already felt he owed Dang Yuqian too much—how could he bear to hurt the heart of another girl who cared for him? To love her, yet not give her happiness, to keep another woman in his heart—how could he justify such a thing?

Although men have, since ancient times, taken concubines, how could he marry Lu Rou and make Dang Yuqian a mere lesser wife? And if he truly did find Dang Yuqian, would Lu Rou be willing to live as a concubine with no status in the household?

Lu Rou’s response set Li Dong’s mind at ease. Her nature was so gentle and kind that she was willing to comfort his broken heart, even if it meant accepting a lesser status. In her own way, was Lu Rou not also like Dang Yuqian, setting aside her own interests for the greater good?

I, Li Dong, must truly be blessed by fortune!

Dang Yuqian had treated him so well, giving everything for him at any cost. Now, Lu Rou was willing to do the same. How could he lightly betray such devotion?

Li Dong nodded approvingly at Lu Rou, praising her: “It is truly a blessing from a past life that the mate should meet a lady such as you, Miss Lu. But in the days ahead—perhaps for quite a long while—I must leave Zhangqiu to attend to an important matter. I cannot yet bring you home as my wife. But once I have succeeded and returned, I promise there will be a grand celebration when I take you as my bride. We will walk hand in hand through life, with mutual respect and never regret it.”

When Lu Rou heard he was leaving Zhangqiu for a long time, she seemed to understand, though she could not be certain. Haltingly she asked, “Is the mate in the story... is that you?”

Li Dong felt a jolt run through him, but quickly covered it up. “Silly girl, you take a story as the truth. Stories are all made up. I’m leaving Zhangqiu for an important business—I can’t tell you yet, but one day you will know.”

“How long will you be gone? What could be more important than marrying and raising a family? Deep down, you don’t want to make me your wife!” Lu Rou, more anxious than anyone, had hoped that provoking him today would finally bring matters to a head, only to find things had not gone as she wished.

Seeing her so upset, Li Dong patiently explained: “Though Zhi Shilang has been defeated, his strength remains. Another great battle is approaching. My departure from Zhangqiu is to protect both Zhangqiu and you. A true man must have ambitions beyond the confines of a hidden courtyard. You wouldn’t want to marry a man who only cared for himself, would you?”

The mention of Zhi Shilang left Lu Rou with no choice but to believe him. The bloody reality had unfolded only yesterday—the gleam of blades and spears still flashed before her eyes, and the cries of the fallen still echoed in her ears. Before her father was marched to the execution ground, she had risked her life to beg Li Dong for help. She understood well: the might of a hundred thousand soldiers was not something one or two people could overcome.

“Then go, but come back soon. Don’t forget me—think of me every day.” As she spoke, Lu Rou blushed deeply, her body swaying slightly. “I’ll be thinking of you too.”

Seeing that no one was around, Li Dong opened his strong arms and pulled Lu Rou tightly into his embrace.

Lu Rou did not resist, nestling against Li Dong’s warm chest like a docile kitten, savoring the tenderness of their contact.

Li Dong’s heart raced, each beat more intense than the last. Lu Rou was so clever—she had nearly guessed he was the mate in the story. Fortunately, he had managed to hide it for now, though he knew he could only deceive her for so long. Once he returned from his journey, he would tell her everything. Given her nature, she would not make things too difficult for him.

After a long while, the two parted and straightened their rumpled clothes, gradually regaining their composure.

When Li Dong left the Lu household, Lu Rou looked as though she might cry, yet she held back her tears. She did not want Li Dong to see her as a burden. Since he was determined to leave Zhangqiu for a grand undertaking, as a woman, she could not hold him back. Having endured so many years alone already, what was a little more waiting?

After leaving Lu’s residence, Li Dong went first to the training grounds to find Luo Shixin. During Li Dong’s long stay at the Lu household, Luo Shixin, without anyone to supervise him, had continued his rigorous training. His face was sunburnt, his clothes soaked with sweat, yet he did not rest.

When he saw Li Dong arrive, Luo Shixin was delighted. “Come, come, see if I’ve made any progress!” he called out. No sooner had he finished speaking than he drew his great bow with all his might—so much so that he snapped it in two. He hung his head in dismay.

Li Dong smiled and asked, “Do you know of any truly skilled blacksmiths? We should have a fine bow forged—then, in future battles, we can slay foes and win honor.”

Luo Shixin’s eyes lit up. “Ah! I nearly forgot until you mentioned it. There’s a hero in Licheng, surname Qin, given name Qiong, styled Shubao—he’s a master smith! We can ask him to make us weapons!”

...

From today onward, “Thief of Tang” will update once at noon and once at 8 p.m. I need more time to refine the plot. The appearance of Qin Qiong will bring constant excitement to the story. With 120,000 words of buildup, I believe you now understand Li Dong’s bold friendship and unwavering loyalty in officialdom, on the battlefield, in romance, and among his brothers. But beyond these, a new “stage” will soon shine forth. Dear friends, look forward to it!

A humble question—have you bookmarked, recommended, or tipped? Haha, just a passing jest. Whether or not you have, I will continue to update steadily as always. For the sake of my writer’s dream, I must persevere! And with your steadfast support, how can I do otherwise?