Warnings
Brutal death, grief.
After the snow storm had cleared, the courtyard was bustling as soldiers came in and out. Zhao Mei prepared the logistics of the trip, Yang Xun organized and directed the soldiers and Lu Qinyi oversaw, frequently being consulted about the details of the trip. Fei Li was left undisturbed until the day they were to head out, when soldiers finally came forth to collect him. With his hands bound in metal restraints and four soldiers surrounding him, he took steps beyond the courtyard for the first time in months. They paused as they came up to their general, who had been watching over the soldiers with his arms folded over his chest. He turned around, giving Fei Li a glance over, the latter returning the gaze with a glare. Fei Li felt peeved whenever he thought of Lu Qinyi’s previous words and his matching casual, carefree attitude.
Lu Qinyi kept a neutral expression as he walked closer, holding his hand out. “Hands.” His order was calm but resolute, for once seeming like the general he was.
He and Fei Li stared each other down for a long few moments before Fei Li relented, raising his bound hands. The restraints that held him consisted of a solid metal band at each wrist held together by a magnetic force, unbreakable by human strength. The only way to release them was to push the corresponding metal ‘key’ into the slot to break the magnetic force.
Lu Qinyi rattled the metal bands slightly, checking they were secure but not digging in. “Alright, stuff him in the carriage with an extra blanket, we’ll be leaving shortly. Your attention should not leave him for any reason, am I understood?” The soldiers gave their acknowledgements before following their orders exactly. Fei Li couldn’t help feeling indignant as he was bundled in a blanket and quite literally stuffed into the carriage. He could only mutter curses to himself however.
They travelled some days before arriving at the decided meeting place. Fei Li was never without at least four soldiers keeping an eye on him, often with Lu Qinyi nearby. Truly no chances were being taken, even the location chosen was a field and surrounding sparse forest with plenty of escape routes, clear and open to prevent any tricky business. With General Lu’s men stationed about, it was evident they were prepared for the worst.
Fei Li was held by his attending soldiers on each side, not far back from where Lu Qinyi stood. He gave no expression, even when faced with his own men standing across from them. They stared at him with eager and anxious gazes, particularly Xi Ming, whose eyes lit up upon seeing General Fei. Fei Li noted with mild interest that he seemed thinner than when he had last seen him. Although seeing those familiar faces and Xi Ming’s evident relief once he had spotted him somewhat put him at ease, his expression was as cool as ever, betraying nothing.
The opposing prisoners were a direct contrast, hope and fear filling their faces from where they were held as they gazed desperately at their general. Only the one held at the front, presumably Commander Xiao, was composed but even his expression was grave, seeming ill at ease. He and Lu Qinyi seemed to be staring at one another but neither spoke.
The first to speak was the captain who must have been in charge in Fei Li’s stead. The Northern army was organized into squads, each having a captain that reported to Fei Li. Since Fei Li had no lieutenants appointed, one of the captains had been chosen. “General Fei, are you truly unharmed? Have you been treated poorly?”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
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“Of course his treatment is good. He’ll remain unharmed so long as he doesn’t attempt anything. Since I’ve fulfilled my end of the agreement, I’d like my soldiers released now.” Lu Qinyi cut in, his gaze hardening as it left Xiao Jianyu to settle on the captain.
The captain glared at him, saying nothing until after Xi Ming had stepped forward to murmur something to him. “We want our general returned to us,” he declared steadily.
Lu Qinyi raised an eyebrow before scowling. “And I have no intention of returning him today. I will release him when it suits me to. Until then, you have my guarantee he won’t be mistreated.”
The captain gave a look toward Xi Ming, who drew his sword and held it to Xiao Jianyu’s throat. “Either General Fei is returned to us or these men will be killed here and now.”
Xiao Jianyu’s eyes widened as he stared at Lu Qinyi desperately. But Lu Qinyi looked at him with grief shining in his eyes as he shook his head ever so slightly. Xiao Jianyu’s lips trembled as fear sunk in but at the end of the day, he was a dignified commander. He wouldn’t beg for his life. He also understood Lu Qinyi well, the other wouldn’t relent. He was beyond saving.
He lowered his head as he heard Lu Qinyi announce his death sentence aloud with a voice that was ever so slightly strained. “I hadn’t taken the North to be this lowly, going back on an agreement and even threatening my soldiers in front of me. I won’t let General Fei go.”
Xi Ming didn’t hesitate. With one smooth, strong movement, Xiao Jianyu’s head was detached from his body, blood following the curve of the blade through the air. He then threw the head to Lu Qinyi, who caught it. Even Fei Li was surprised by how merciless and cold this action was but on second thought, he really shouldn’t be. Xi Ming had been following him for many years after all, this was true to Fei Li’s own mercilessness.
“You have one more chance to return my general.” Xi Ming spat coldly, blood slowly dripping from the tip of his sword.
The captain was quick to follow him up, “If you still refuse to return our general, we will kill the rest of your soldiers as well.”
But it was as if Lu Qinyi couldn’t hear them or the calls of his frightened men. He stared down at that head in his hands, even as blood continued to pour from the severed neck.
The captain and Xi Ming shared a look, seeming to understand that this plan wasn’t going to work. The captain signalled with his hand and the cries of those captured soldiers rang out through the field. Even as their blood was still being split over the grass, their bodies still in the midst of falling, the men from the Northern army moved to attack in a last ditch attempt to take their general by force.
Lu Qinyi was quick to react now, tossing the head of his dear friend to a nearby soldier who was sure to be traumatized after this. “Keep this safe.” He then dashed over to Fei Li, personally grabbing a hold of him as he ordered his soldiers to retreat amongst the chaos that had broken out. With Lu Qinyi, four elite soldiers and many surrounding soldiers, the men of the Northern army couldn’t even get close and Fei Li’s attempts to struggle were also meaningless. It took no time at all for Fei Li to be dragged off the scene. With the Southern army’s preparations, even the casualties were few in number.
Fei Li had given up struggling shortly after realizing it was pointless but still Lu Qinyi’s tight grip didn’t let off until both of them were seated in the carriage. As they left, Lu Qinyi remained in the carriage with Fei Li, the head of Xiao Jianyu which he had since reclaimed from the soldier rested on his lap, held between his hands. He sat in the opposite corner to Fei Li, remaining staring down at the head in his hands without a word for the rest of the trip.
—
After the soldiers were buried and a memorial held for them, everything continued as it had before. However, Lu Qinyi had picked up some new habits. When he wasn’t holed up in his room completing work, he would sit out in the snowy courtyard under the lonely tree in its center. He would sit with his head tilted back against the trunk, staring up into the tangle of snowy branches, his thoughts only known to himself. Or perhaps he was thinking of nothing at all. He would remain this way until Yang Xun or Zhao Mei would come over. He would then stand up, brush off the snow and continue his day, or night.
Beside this, he would also often accompany Fei Li for at least one meal time a day. He wouldn’t eat with him, just sipping at tea. Sometimes he was quiet, other times chattering but his smile didn’t seem quite right, there were dark circles under his eyes and he looked a bit pale. But Fei Li knew his place and never commented. He didn’t even shoo Lu Qinyi away, understanding the part he played in the silent grief Lu Qinyi must have been enduring. He’d even set aside his bitterness with Lu Qinyi for the time being.
One particular mealtime however was interrupted by Zhao Mei. She also looked a bit tired, worry even showing between those often impassive brows. She didn’t spare Fei Li a look, turning directly to her general who sat lazily in his chair, teacup dangling from his fingers.
“General Lu, did you truly believe I wouldn’t notice you’re missing meals if you hid in here?”
Lu Qinyi sighed, tilting his head to meet her gaze. “I had hoped you’d recognize it meant I didn’t want to be asked about it.”
“General, you need to eat. You’ll grow weak and sick if you don’t.”
“Mei Mei, leave it be. I can’t eat.”
“General, you have to,” she insisted sternly.
Fei Li glanced up at them, pondering a moment before he decided to speak up. Although he didn’t feel guilty for what had happened, it was Lu Qinyi’s choice after all, he felt some pity still. “You should eat, General Lu.”
Lu Qinyi’s gaze flicked between the unlikely pair who had unexpectedly teamed up against him. He could only sigh, waving over a servant. “Bring me a bucket.”
He sat up, gesturing at the plate of buns on the table, looking over at Fei Li. “May I?” At Fei Li’s nod, he took up a bun and took a few bites, swallowing them down with evident difficulty. He then leaned back, waiting a few moments. His complexion slowly turned more and more pale before it took on a green appearance. Lu Qinyi hastily took the bucket from the servant, his back shaking as he heaved up the food he had just eaten. When he had finished, he dumped the bucket on the ground, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand as he sat back. He gazed between the two before muttering, “Satisfied?”
The crease between Zhao Mei’s brows deepened as she stared at Lu Qinyi. But she knew there was nothing more for her to say or do. She lightly shook her head before silently turning to leave. Fei Li also had nothing to say, the corner of his lips turning down slightly.
Lu Qinyi knew he had made his point, lifting his teacup to his lips. But the taste of bile seemed to linger, tainting the taste of his tea. He could only sigh as he placed the teacup down again.
Author’s notes:
I’m sorry, normally these chapters go through another round of editing when I upload them to CG but I’ve had a busy week. I’ll give it the final edit and clean up as soon as I can.
So they killed his good friend in front of him for the effect. Thanks for the update. I would find it hard to eat also.
Yeah. Pretty awful. Thanks for reading Drifting 💕
thx for the chapter
Thanks for reading and commenting!!
Did Lu Quinyi hold a grudge against Xi Ming?
Is this eating disorder new or did he already have it before and has it worsened with the trauma?
YES! How on earth did you already guess that?
But yes, he most definitely holds a grudge.It’s a reaction to grief. He’s a great eater and loves food ordinarily but when he is grieving, he struggles to eat and feels physically sick from trying.
I follow your instagram XD.
Although I see it in his personality too<3.
Regarding the eating disorder, I realized when you mentioned in the narrative that it was difficult for him to eat.
OMG wait really? :DD Message me any time! I’m always active on insta~
Yeah, Lu Qinyi and Xi Ming are enemies for life for suure.
Yep! He struggles to eat whenever he’s grieving in particular. He’s normally okay though
Okay!
I Will messages you<3