"Ugh...!" Yinou groaned, stumbling back to her feet. Her legs felt like jelly, and the throbbing in her chest was a constant reminder of the arrow that had pierced her. She scrambled to her knees, tearing a strip of her tunic and hastily wrapping it around the wound.
"Damn it... Damn it all!" she hissed, her voice strained. She'd almost lost herself there, she almost killed her brother. The thought sent a fresh wave of nausea through her, a bitter taste on her tongue.
Gasping for breath, she threw her head back, staring at the sky. A dark red aura pulsed around her, a menacing halo that seemed to mock her with its ominous glow. It was a tangible manifestation of the terror that gnawed at her, a constant reminder of her descent into madness.
"I don't know where I am. Help me, she whispered, summoning a butterfly messenger with a desperate flick of her wrist. The creature, a flicker of hope against the encroaching darkness, fluttered away, carrying her plea.
The arrowhead, protruding from her chest, throbbed in rhythm to her ragged breaths. She bit her lip, ignoring the searing pain as she ripped the shard free. The world swam with crimson, her vision blurring as she fought against the rising tide of black.
A warm hand closed around her face, gently nudging her chin up. "Hey, look at me. Breathe," a voice, familiar and comforting, cut through the chaos.
Yinou's eyes met Su Ning's, their depths filled with sorrow and a simmering anger that mirrored her own. His touch was a grounding force, anchoring her to reality. Slowly, with each breath, the world sharpened, the panic subsiding.
"What's with the look?" she asked, her voice a trembling whisper.
His features hardened, the sadness in his eyes twisting into something bleak and unyielding. "Xiao Li's dead."
The words were a punch to the gut. Yinou stood frozen, unable to process the information. She stared at him, the reality of his words slowly sinking in.
He turned away, a flicker of a smile touching his lips, hollow and cold. "Let's go."
Yinou, still reeling from the shock, simply nodded. Su Ning offered his arm, his grip firm as he guided her through the tangle of trees. Together, they walked back in Dongying.
The silence of the Dongying camp was heavy with the weight of loss. White cloth draped over countless bodies, a stark reminder of the battles brutal toll. Yinuo's heart ached, the sorrow of the camp mirroring her own. She saw Susu in the distance, her figure a beacon of comfort in the desolation.
Susu rushed to her, her arms engulfing Yinuo in a tight embrace. Tears streamed down her face, her voice choked with emotion. "I couldn't bear the feeling of losing you again and again," she whispered, her words laced with a raw vulnerability that pierced Yinuo's heart.
Yinuo winced as Susu's touch grazed her arrow wound, a sharp pang of pain reminding her of the battle's aftermath. "Oh god, you're bleeding!" Susu exclaimed, her voice filled with concern.
Li Yang stepped forward, her face etched with worry. "Come, let's dress your wounds." The three girls made their way into a nearby tent, the silence broken only by the rustle of their garments. Li Yang and Susu began tending to Yinuo's injuries.
Outside the tent, Su Ning watched, his gaze reflecting the environment. Bai Lin approached, his voice hushed. "Mrs. Xiao is outside, she requested an audience."
Su Ning, brows furrowed, turned to face Mrs. Xiao, sorrow etched upon her face, bowed deeply. "General Su Ning," she began, her voice trembling with emotion. "My husband, Xiao Li, he is gone. I am so unfortunate. I have nowhere to go, no one to care for me. Please, General, offer me your shelter."
Su Ning, moved by Mrs. Xiao's plight, readily agreed. "Of course, Mrs. Xiao. You are welcome here."
That night, Mrs. Xiao, carried a newborn baby, its tiny face full of innocence. A flicker of disgust crossed her face as she gazed upon the child. With a swift, decisive movement, she carried the infant to the edge of the dark forest and laid it down, leaving it to the mercy of the night.
Later, Susu confided in Yinuo and Li Yang. Xiao Li, he spoke before he passed, she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "He said something about 'my wife, my child?' It's unclear, but he said something like that," Susu told.
A chill of suspicion ran down their spines. Had Xiao Li been a father? Was Mrs. Xiao carrying his child? The question echoed in the silent night.
The following morning, they confided in Su Ning. Susu's suspicions were now clear, a knot of unease tightening in her gut. Su Ning, his suspicions sparked, confronted Mrs. Xiao.
Mrs. Xiao, he began, his voice firm, Tell me the truth. Were you with child? Did you have a baby?
Mrs. Xiao, her face a mask of innocence, shook her head. I am not pregnant. I carry no child, General."
There was a brief silence, as everyone looked at Mrs. Xiao.
"I loved Zhang Li!" Mrs. Xiao's voice cracked, tears welling in her eyes. "Now that he's gone, you're pressing accusations on me! You don't want me here, do you? Just tell me!"
General Su Ning, his face etched with concern, placed a calming hand on her arm. "Please, calm down, Mrs. Xiao. I will prove your innocence."
Mrs. Xiao, still sniffling, nodded dramatically, her eyes wide and glistening with unshed tears. She then, in a move that seemed entirely unnecessary, flung her arms around Su Ning, burying her face in his chest.
Yinou, in a corner, raised her eyebrow. Susu, her lips pressed into a thin line, exchanged a look with Li Yang. Susu, unable to contain her amusement, rolled her eyes.
"I still can't believe you would accused me of having a child!" Mrs. Xiao's voice was muffled against Su Ning's tunic. "As if I even carry with me a child! Even if I did, what would me the shame? It'll me mine and Xiao Li's offspring...You saw, General, you haven't seen me with a child, have you? It's because I don't have one! Never did!"
Su Ning patted her back awkwardly, his gaze flickering towards the corner where Yinou, with a look of utter exasperation, had retreated further into the shadows.
To quell the suspicions, they sought the opinion of the camp physician. He examined Mrs. Xiao, his face a mask of professional neutrality. His verdict was final. She is not pregnant.
Although the physicians confirmation offered a measure of relief, Susu remained unconvinced. The sight of Mrs. Xiao's gaze, cold and calculating lingered in her mind.