King of Hundred Victories Saber

Shi Feiyang held her hand and said with a smile, ”Don’t rush, take your time. With me here, you’ll be fine.”

Guo Xiangyu was sewing clothes for Shi Feiyang, each stitch filled with deep affection.

She embroidered a majestic cherry blossom pattern on the clothes, with the words ”Peace” at the neckline, and secretly stitched their names on the hem.

Whenever the night was deep and quiet, she would sit by the window, sewing carefully by the moonlight, her lips always curved into a happy smile.

”Feiyang, may this garment keep you safe,” she whispered softly, her eyes full of tenderness and expectation.

The wind and snow remained, yet the two at the pass felt no chill.

Because they knew, as long as they were together, no amount of wind and snow could hinder the warmth and love in their hearts.

This deep affection, in this era of chaos and war, seemed especially precious and moving.

Morning fog draped over the verdant mountains like a light veil, revealing glimpses of the small courtyard where Shi Feiyang and Guo Xiangyu lived.

The bamboo fence was covered with roses; the dew-laden petals trembled gently, like a dream not yet waned.

Guo Xiangyu was wearing a light blue skirt, drying medicinal herbs in the courtyard, the Jasmine Hairpin in her hair swayed with her movements, emitting a faint fragrance.

Shi Feiyang, holding a bamboo broom, was sweeping the fallen leaves, occasionally looking up at the busy figure, an unconscious gentle smile gracing his lips.

”Xiangyu, don’t tire yourself,” he said softly, his voice full of fondness.

Guo Xiangyu turned around, her eyes crescent-like with a smile: ”I’m not tired. Once these herbs are dried, we’ll be able to help treat the villagers nearby. Look, this is Angelica, and this is Peony...”

She squatted down, gently stroking the herbs, her eyes full of cherishing, ”They may look insignificant, yet they can save lives.”

Shi Feiyang put down the broom, sat beside her, and tucked a stray lock of her hair behind her ear, ”You are always so kind-hearted. On the battlefield, you were the same, risking danger to treat injured comrades.”

Guo Xiangyu leaned on his shoulder, letting out a gentle sigh, ”Back then, I just thought, if I could save one more person, it would be worth it. Now, to contribute to the well-being of the people in these mountains and forests is also wonderful.” She paused, looking up at Shi Feiyang, ”But you, besides fighting for the soldiers, have been tirelessly working for the livelihood of the local people.”

Shi Feiyang, embracing her with a smile, said, ”The money and food we’ve accumulated were earned through the blood and sweat of me and my comrades, and they cannot be spent recklessly. We must support the people while also teaching them to farm and cultivate the barren lands. In life, one must obtain food through labor and not get it without hard work.”

As he spoke, his warm breath brushed past her ear, making Guo Xiangyu’s cheeks blush.

”You’re just teasing me,” Guo Xiangyu said with a playful reproach, breaking free from his embrace and running to the plum tree in the courtyard.

In the biting cold wind, the golden petals bloomed with ice crystals, exuding a subtle fragrance.

A few fallen petals drifted by, lightly landing on her shoulder. She caught a semi-transparent petal, placed it gently by her nose, and sniffed, ”Feiyang, look at this plum blossom. It resembles the red plum you gave me last year on the grassland amidst the endless snow.”

Shi Feiyang rose, walked to her side, and held her hand. His warmth, belonging to one skilled in martial arts, dispersed the winter chill: ”Compared to the red plum, I think you resemble the winter plum even more, flourishing with even greater brilliance in the cold, stunningly beautiful.”

As he spoke, he took out a small cloth bundle from his sleeve, ”I went to town a few days ago, saw this, and thought of buying it for you.”

Curiously, Guo Xiangyu opened the cloth bundle, revealing a beautifully carved jade hairpin, depicting a vivid twin lotus.

”Do you like it?” Shi Feiyang asked softly.

With eyes slightly reddened, Guo Xiangyu nodded, ”I like it, very much.” She handed the jade hairpin to Shi Feiyang, ”Would you help me put it on?”

Shi Feiyang carefully adorned her with the jade hairpin, watching her with delight, ”Truly beautiful.”

He bent down and planted a kiss on Guo Xiangyu’s forehead.

Guo Xiangyu traced the translucent plum blossom petal with her fingers, her lashes casting delicate shadows under her eyelids, and she said softly, ”That time on the grassland, holding the plum blossom you folded for me amidst the snowstorm, my heart felt warmer than with a coal fire. Now, with this tree full of winter plums, it seems like every blood-drenched moment has turned into honey.”

She suddenly smiled, gently pinning the petal onto Shi Feiyang’s lapel, ”But your words about admiring flowers have become more and more eloquent.”

Shi Feiyang looked down at the newly adorned jade hairpin in her hair, set off against the golden winter plum, her eyes painted with elegance.

He brushed off the snowflakes from her temple, his voice soaked in warmth, ”Previously in the front lines, watching you dance with a bamboo knife to save the wounded, drenched in blood yet graceful as a butterfly, I knew there was no flower fiercer than you in this world. The winter plum may be proud, but it doesn’t compare to you.”

He said this while taking out a pair of golden earrings from the bundle, adorned with two lifelike winter plums, tiny pearls embedded in their stamens.

Guo Xiangyu gazed at the earrings, a shimmer of tears in her eyes, ”Such exquisite items must have taken a lot of thought.” She tipped her toes to hang the earrings on her ears, the gold ornaments swaying lightly, the pearls trembling with each movement, ”But to accept your gifts without a return, how should I repay you?”

Shi Feiyang suddenly grasped her cold hand and brought his lips close, breathing warm air over it, ”If you really want to repay me...” His gaze was intense, his voice tender, ”From now on, on this day every year, accompany me to warm wine and admire the plum blossoms beneath the tree. When frost and snow turn our hair white, may we still drink a cup of warm wine together, counting the flowers that bloomed on these cold branches.” Before his words fell, a strong wind swept through, and the plum tree showered them with golden petals.