“Sir, have we won…”
“Yes, we’ve won.”
The setting sun blazed like fire, casting a crimson halo over the battlefield. Its warm light reflected on the earth, illuminating the desolation of a tragic elegy. Broken weapons stood upside down in the snow, silent witnesses to the chaos. Corpses paved a path for the survivors, who now moved forward—seizing the tower, gathering remaining forces, and securing the pass.
The battle was over.
“That’s great…”
A dragon-patterned spear pierced the earth, standing like the roots of a tenacious plant amidst the bloodied battlefield.
Wu Yingxue sat by the spear, her body weak and trembling. Her face was streaked with blood, a fresh wound on her forehead dripping red, dyeing her hair and staining her lips.
She lowered her head and managed a faint smile, but blood trickled from her lips, soaking her clothing. The pain was sharp. Her strength, utterly drained.
Wu Yingxue, a rising prodigy, lacked the battle experience and skills of her opponent. Yet, with sheer will and Blue Arc Technique, she barely secured victory over a seasoned innate general. It was an extraordinary feat.
Now, as the adrenaline faded, she could only sit there, helpless, watching the sun set and the shadows of night creep over the land.
“Crack—”
“Crack—”
Footsteps crunched against the snow. Wu Yingxue forced her eyes open and smiled weakly at the figure approaching.
“Sir, I won,” she whispered.
“I saw it, Yingxue. You did well,” Xu Xi said warmly, kneeling beside her.
He gently wiped the blood from her face and supported her, trying to help her stand.
“Wait, wait!” Wu Yingxue exclaid, her eyes widening. Despite her frailty, her stubbornness remained.
“Sir, you don’t have to help . I can stand on my own!”
Her voice was firm, her determination clear. She pushed Xu Xi’s hand aside and tried to step forward.
But…
“Thud.”
Her legs gave out, and she tumbled into the snow, rolling several tis before coming to a stop.
“Ah…”
Her delicate face was painted with confusion, her once-pristine attire now dirtied by snow and mud. A snowflake gently landed on her nose, and she muttered softly,”It hurts.”
Xu Xi sighed helplessly. This ti, instead of offering her support, he crouched down and lifted her onto his back.
“Stay still,” he ordered.
“Yes, sir,” she replied ekly.
With Wu Yingxue on his back and the dragon-patterned spear in hand, Xu Xi walked toward the pass. Behind him, a stream of refugees and starving souls followed, seeking refuge and hope for a better tomorrow.
The setting sun bled its last light over the earth, torn apart by the worn shoes of the weary travelers. The cold wind howled, but it was muffled by the collective march of ragged figures. As night fell, the stars erged, scattering across the sky like diamonds.
“Sir,” Wu Yingxue’s voice broke the silence.
Clinging to Xu Xi’s neck, she fixed herself more securely on his back. Her voice carried a hint of curiosity.
“How did I do today? What’s my evaluation?”
Xu Xi pondered briefly before replying,”Class B.”
“B-level? That’s better than last ti,” she said, chuckling softly.
Her laughter quickly turned into a weak cough, so she rested her head against Xu Xi’s shoulder and fell silent.
For the first ti in a long while, she felt truly at ease.
Though she remained obedient and still on his back, her playful spirit remained.
Wu Yingxue’s eyes narrowed mischievously as she gazed at Xu Xi’s neck, then his ears, and the way the wind played with his hair. Like a child, she puffed gently at his hair, giggling at the way it swayed.
“The stars tonight are so beautiful…” she murmured.
Lying on Xu Xi’s back, her gaze drifted upward. The sky was clear, free of snow and clouds, revealing a galaxy of glittering stars. The vast expanse of the Milky Way reflected in her eyes, more dazzling than any earthly treasure.
“Sir, you once said there were tens of millions of stars in the sky, right?”
“Yes, I did. Why?”
“Nothing,” she said with a laugh.”I just want to count them one by one and see if there really are that many.”
Despite knowing it was futile, the young girl who had lost everything was determined to try. She begged Xu Xi to rember the numbers for her as she began counting.
“One, two, three, four… Oh no, I ssed up!”
“One, two, three, four, five…”
The stars twinkled brilliantly as Wu Yingxue counted. Her voice, once strong, grew softer and more tired until it faded into gentle snores.
Xu Xi paused for a mont before continuing, his steps quieter now. He murmured a number under his breath:”One thousand three hundred and thirty-five.”
It was the last number she had counted before falling asleep.
Though it held no real significance, Xu Xi morized it because she had asked him to.
Raising his head, Xu Xi noticed two particularly bright stars close together, illuminating the road ahead.
“Strange,” he mused.”Is it just , or are those stars brighter than the others?”
The stars seed to guide his path, lighting the way for him and the girl on his back.
…
[The battle is over.]
[You have won.]
[This is an incredible feat, a victory that defies all expectations.]
[You led a group of impoverished, untrained people to break through a pass and enter the heart of Da Gan.]
[Above you, the stars shine brightly, illuminating the treacherous road ahead.]
[You think to yourself: perhaps this is the good fortune brought by the silly girl counting stars.]
[Still, you sigh deeply, for carrying her all night was no easy task.]
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