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Finest Servant Chapter 573
🕑 Added 2023-10-19 10:14:47 +0000 UTCChapter 573 A Dangerous Game
He stood there wearing only a pair of boxers, his muscular arms exposed. Water droplets trickled down from his hair and cheeks. His skin was so dark it nearly blended into the night. He wore a playful grin as he stood before Yujia.
"What are you doing?!" The Turkic girl stepped back hastily, her eyes wide open, looking at him as if he were a wild wolf.
"That's a question I should be asking you," Lin Wanrong wiped the water droplets from his face, chuckling as he glanced at the pebbles at her feet. "You sure act fast. If I gave you more stones today, you might just fill up the entire river."
Yujia seemed to regain her composure and responded coldly, "Doesn't Great Hua have a story of ‘Jingwei fills the sea?’ What's the big deal if I fill this river? It's none of your business."
"Ah, you even know the story of Jingwei. You're quite learned, aren't you?" Lin Wanrong laughed, his eyes unintentionally falling on Yujia.
After roaming the Sea of Death for over twenty days, bathing was a luxury, even drinking water was a challenge. Among the 5,000 soldiers, from generals to foot soldiers, everyone was filthy—except for this Turkic girl.
Her skin remained as smooth and delicate as ever, glowing faintly as if the sun of the Sea of Death had never touched her. Standing close to her, one could even smell a faint fragrance that was intoxicating. Except for her lips, which were pale from dehydration, and her robe, which was covered in sand and dust, Yujia looked as radiant as when they first met.
"What are you looking at?!" Noticing his gaze, Yujia clenched her fists and hastily lowered her head.
‘I'm burnt to a crisp, and yet she's as white as jade. Comparisons are truly odious!’ Lin Wanrong sighed, shaking his head. "It doesn't matter—I'm just glad we finally left that damned desert!"
The Turkic girl paused, then suddenly shouted, "So you're really eager to leave?!"
"Of course," Lin Wanrong replied without hesitation. "All there was were endless sands, no food, no water. Even rabbits wouldn't poop there. We nearly lost our lives. What's there to miss? Everyone wants to get out as quickly as possible. What about you? Do you actually want to stay—hey, hey, what are you doing? Don't push me—"
"Get out, just go! I never want to see you again, go!" Before he could finish, Yujia grasped his arm and pushed him away with all her might, her voice full of urgency and anger.
It was as if the Turkic girl had transformed into an enraged leopardess. Even Lin Wanrong was taken aback. He retreated a few steps and stammered, "No need for violence. You can't beat me anyway—"
"Go! I said go!" Yujia pushed him away once more, then suddenly burst into tears. Crystal droplets flowed from between her fingers, cascading down her alabaster arms.
‘She's genuinely furious. But what I don't understand is, would she be happier if I stayed in the Sea of Death?’ Lin Wanrong shook his head, puzzled. "Don't cry anymore. Rest assured, once I finish one last task, you won't have to drive me away—I'll leave on my own!"
"What else are you up to?" Yueya’er bit her teeth in anger.
Lin Wanrong grinned slightly, "What am I up to? Well, what are you doing hiding here then?"
"I, I—" Yueya’er was momentarily stunned, her face flushing and paling in quick succession.
"Go ahead and wash yourself. I'll keep watch for you here. Rest assured, I solemnly swear, on my most exalted honor, that no one else will peep." He winked, raising his right hand in a serious oath.
Her cheeks, as smooth as white jade, flushed a shade of rouge. Yueya’er softly retorted, "How would you know—hmph, do you even have any honor?"
"Listen to you," Lin Wanrong chuckled, "I'm known as the most upright and virtuous man in Great Hua. People respect me. My reputation is not to be trifled with. As long as I stand guard here, no one would dare approach, out of respect for my esteemed name. Go on, wash freely and without worry!"
Yueya’er gritted her teeth, "I'm not worried about other people, it's you that I'm concerned about!"
"Really?" Lin Wanrong gasped in mock horror, his eyes widening, "Miss Yueya’er, how could you say such a thing? Haven't you heard? It's always the daughters of other wealthy families who try to take advantage of me, not the other way around. You may not trust me, but don't insult the taste of Great Hua's well-bred young ladies! Well, since that's the case, I've nothing more to say. Take your time washing; I'll be on my way."
He turned to leave, seemingly without a second thought. Bare-chested, wearing only shorts, his confident stride was simultaneously odd and amusing.
Yueya’er snorted, paying him no mind. The sound of footsteps faded into the distance. Just when it seemed he had truly departed, she became anxious. Hastily, she looked up, "Wait, wait!"
Though her voice was low, it was as if Lin Wanrong had been waiting for her call. He stopped abruptly, turning back with a sleazy grin, "Little sister, were you calling for me?"
"Playing dumb!" Yueya’er blushed, lowering her head, "I'm not calling for you!"
Lin Wanrong chuckled and walked back, "In that case, I'll stick around for now. Miss Yueya’er, have you changed your opinion and trust my honor now?"
"Trust you? As if!" Yueya’er felt her cheeks grow warm. To say this bandit was honorable was something she couldn't even convince herself of.
Having traversed the desert for over twenty days, she could tolerate the lack of food and water. However, for a woman who prized cleanliness, not being able to bathe was the greatest torment. Finally out of the desert, she found herself a captive again, monitored by soldiers on all sides. How could a beautiful woman like her dare to frolic in the water?
Luckily there was Lin Wanrong. As terrible as he might be, he was better than the others. When push came to shove, she had no choice but to trust him.
As if rationalizing to herself, her cheeks flushed. Softly, she said, "Turn your head away and keep some distance. Don't look—"
Lin Wanrong laughed heartily, taking several steps away. Yet from behind him came Yueya’er's soft voice, "Don't go too far—"
This was odd indeed. One moment she told him to keep his distance, and the next she cautioned him not to stray too far. What on earth did she mean?
"I—I'm afraid of the dark!" The young girl's trembling voice sounded from behind him, causing Lin Wanrong to pause. He immediately burst into laughter. "So, even Turkic women share the same fear of the dark as our Great Hua women. I'll never understand women. What's there to be afraid of? I love it when it gets dark!"
Noticing that he had stopped walking, the girl fell silent. "Don't turn around!" she ordered. Following her command, the sound of rustling fabric floated through the air, indicating that she had begun to undress.
‘The skin of this Turkic girl is as translucent as jade, and her figure is stunning. Should I, with an artistic eye, take this opportunity for a closer examination?’ Lin Wanrong pondered. ‘But wouldn't that tarnish my reputation? I have a lofty image to maintain in front of Si De and Old Gao. How could I let it crumble?’
His thoughts were a whirlpool of temptation. After a moment of consideration, he gritted his teeth and muttered to himself, ‘A true connoisseur must be willing to disdain worldly conventions and sacrifice personal dignity. If not me, then who?’
Just as he was about to stealthily turn around, a splash echoed from behind him, followed by the girl's shy but stern rebuke, "Don't you dare peek!"
This girl certainly was alert. Lin Wanrong answered, "I won't look at you. But in the interest of fairness, Miss Yujia, you shouldn't peek at me either. If I catch you, I'll have no choice but to look back. I'm a man of my word—ouch!"
A small stone flew from behind, landing at his feet. A soft hum of disapproval emanated from Yujia.
"If you're not peeking at me, then how would you know I was peeking at you?" The young girl had seen through his ruse. In her mix of shame and anger, she shot him a warning glare.
As the saying goes, women take forever when they bathe! Yujia, being a woman of high standing and great cleanliness, was not about to rush through her bath, especially after enduring days of desert dust. The sounds of splashing water and the girl's cheerful singing in Turkic carried through the air.
‘Is bathing really this important?’ Lin Wanrong couldn't help but wonder. Just moments before, she was roaring like an angry lioness. Now she was all laughter and song. Women were inscrutable!
Perched on a rock, he waited, not knowing how much time had passed. His legs were growing numb. Finally, he could wait no longer and called out, "Little sister, have you finished bathing? I need to step away for a moment."
A light fragrance drifted through the air. From behind, a voice tinged with both shyness and annoyance floated toward him, "Can you ever be serious?"
Lin Wanrong turned around. One look was all it took for him to freeze in place.
Her skin was as smooth as jade, glowing with the purity of a spring. Her bright red lips were like buds of roses, about to bloom. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, evoking the delicate petals of a rose. Her eyes held a watery hue, as if they could draw one into their depths. Her raven-black hair, still wet, cascaded down like a shimmering waterfall.
A faint fragrance wafted through the air. Under the serene moonlight, the Turkic young woman was dressed in a yellow skirt that brushed against her white ankles, outlining her curvaceous form in an alluring way.
The corners of her mouth curved slightly upward, revealing a smile that was both shy and proud. The occasional glint of cold light in her moist eyes further underscored her resilience and determination. She was a woman not easily conquered!
Having admired Yujia's beauty before, Lin Wanrong was taken aback to find her even more entrancing after her bath. She looked like an enchanting spirit sent from the heavens, full of wild allure. His mouth gaped open, and he couldn't bring himself to close it.
"What are you looking at?" Yujia seemed in a much better mood after her bath. She tilted her head and gently ran her fingers through her damp hair, letting clear droplets fall to the ground. A soft blush graced her face, and her voice was unexpectedly tender.
Lin Wanrong sighed deeply, as if awoken from a dream, and gave her a thumbs-up. "Even after I've seen countless beauties, I must admit, Miss Yujia, you are one of the most beautiful women I've ever encountered! Really, I never lie."
Yujia frowned and huffed, "Why only 'one of'? Are there women more beautiful than me?"
"Of course!" Lin Wanrong began to count on his fingers, "Aside from my wives Qingxuan, Fairy Sister, Sister An, Ning'er, Qiaoqiao, and Eldest Miss, you, Miss Yujia, are indeed the prettiest. Hence, 'one of'!"
Yujia turned her head away in irritation. "So you have this many wives? Hmm, I would like to see what these so-called most beautiful women look like."
Lin Wanrong responded calmly, "They're not just beautiful in appearance but also in spirit. I'm afraid that if you meet them, you might lose sleep for nights!"
"You—" Yujia's face flushed red, and somehow a golden blade appeared in her hand. With a swift motion, she hacked it into a nearby stone, sending sparks flying.
The blade still had droplets on it, sparkling anew. Lin Wanrong broke into a cold sweat. ‘She even takes the golden blade with her when bathing. Is it to guard against me? Luckily, I also bring a weapon when I bathe!’
Yujia remained silent for a moment. Finally, lifting her head, her radiant cheeks shimmered in the moonlight. Gently caressing her damp hair, she offered a seductive smile. "Don't try to deceive me with your words. I am confident that when it comes to beauty, I yield to no woman in the world. As for inner beauty—"
She paused and looked at him deeply before smiling, "How would you know about the beauty of my soul when you can't even see it?"
Lin Wanrong chuckled, "I was just speaking off the cuff; you don't have to take it seriously. To be honest, if anyone's soul is flawed, it's mine."
"At least you show some self-awareness!" Yujia giggled, stealing a glance at him. Her radiant face seemed like a rose blooming under the moonlight.
Lin Wanrong was momentarily stunned, then turned his head away. "Miss Yujia, please don't bewitch me. You should know that I am a man of firm resolve!"
"Really?" A flicker of flame passed through Yujia's eyes as she coldly chuckled, "Someone as resolute as you is indeed rare—hmm, I simply don't believe it!" Her words carried multiple meanings, understood only by herself.
Lin Wanrong let out a sigh and said, "You know, I do miss the time we spent in the Sea of Death."
Yujia lowered her head, her cheeks flushed slightly as she softly asked, "What do you miss?"
"I miss living a life where one doesn't have to scheme and plot," Lin Wanrong answered, shaking his head somberly. The wistfulness in his tone resonated with Yujia, making her feel somewhat dispirited as well. What he said was true; in the desert, the lines between enemies and friends could blur. Yet, once outside the desert, everything returned to normal.
"We can live without scheming now too," Yujia mumbled, her voice barely audible. Lin Wanrong chuckled and shook his head, "Do you remember what you said to me as we were about to leave the desert?"
"I don't remember," the young girl averted her face. She had said she never wanted to see him again, but within a few hours, everything had changed. Feeling her ears heat up, she quickly covered them and said, "Don't tell me. I've forgotten everything."
"Ah, yes, you should forget it," Lin Wanrong nodded. Yujia's face instantly changed; she said hurriedly, "I can forget, but you are not allowed to! If you forget, I'll hate you for the rest of my life. Remember that!"
Under the cold moonlight, her eyes were slightly wet, yet her face was resolute as she defiantly looked at him.
A bare-chested man from the Great Hua Empire and a gorgeously dressed Turkic woman stood facing each other, their expressions shifting in an indescribable way.
Lin Wanrong suddenly smiled and said, "Miss Yujia, don't you find our current relationship really strange?"
"What's so strange about it?" Yujia pouted.
Lin Wanrong spread his hands in resignation. "We could be considered enemies, yet in the Sea of Death, we lived and died together. We could be friends, but you are Turkic and I am from Great Hua; two opposing nations destined to meet on the battlefield. You're my captive now, and perhaps you'd like to make me yours. Isn't this relationship complicated?"
A gleam appeared in Yujia's eyes, and her cheeks turned rosy. She lowered her head and softly said, "If you don't want it to be complicated, it could be very simple."
Her face flushed, and her neck—white and graceful as a swan's—had a touch of pink. She was stunningly beautiful and incredibly alluring.
Lin Wanrong swallowed hard, then slowly shook his head. "Miss Yujia, there's something I have to tell you. The things you said to me when we were about to leave the desert, I might not remember them. Perhaps, you should indeed hate me for a lifetime."
"Why?" Yujia's face changed dramatically; her eyes filled with tears in an instant.
"Because," Lin Wanrong stared at her, smiled faintly and calmly said, "I have a feeling that someone wants to play a game with me. A dangerous game—the game of the hunter and the fox."
"What are you saying?" Yujia hurriedly lowered her head, biting her silver teeth, her eyes shifting rapidly. "What game? What hunter and fox? I don't understand!"
Lin Wanrong chuckled, "It's better if you don't understand. This game is truly no fun at all. Think about it—knowing full well that the other person is deceitful, knowing they are faking it, yet you're moved to the point of tears. Listening to their words, never knowing which is true and which is false—such a game is perilous. People could die!"
Yueya’er, visibly angered, leaped to her feet, tears streaming down uncontrollably. "You're the one who's faking it!"
Lin Wanrong sighed, locking eyes with her. "If it's not faking, then is it the truth?"
"It's not the truth! Not the truth!" Yujia covered her ears, screaming and howling, tears falling like rain. In an instant, her eyes flickered with a blend of confusion, sorrow, and hesitation—emotions so complicated they were nearly unfathomable.
Lin Wanrong shook his head resignedly. "Miss Yujia, you share a concern similar to mine—you're too intelligent and too obsessed. You even choose the most dangerous games to play. That's not a good thing."
Yueya’er's gaze shifted in an array of emotions. She silently lifted her head, her face adorned with teardrops shimmering like morning dew in the moonlight. She glanced at him and gritted her teeth. "It's late. Yujia is tired. I want to rest."
"Perhaps I should be the one to leave first," Lin Wanrong quietly shook his head, sighing, "I promised you, after finishing one task, I would go. Now the time has come."
As he spoke, he resolutely took steps forward. Yujia watched his retreating figure, her tears falling silently. Her lips quivered a few times before she whispered, "Wo Lao Gong—"
Lin Wanrong paused, slowly turning back, "Miss Yujia, what is it?"
Yueya’er looked at him, her lips parting as if to say something, but finally, she stubbornly shook her head. "You should go."
Lin Wanrong shook his head again, softly sighing, "Little sister, there's something I forgot to tell you."
"What?" Yujia asked.
Reaching into his waist, he took out an object, lightly swaying it before her. He sighed softly, "The water pouch—it's broken!"
Yujia froze, then suddenly lunged forward like a madwoman. Under the moonlight, the tear in the water pouch was clearly visible. As she stared at it, tears burst forth like a fountain. She viciously bit down on Lin Wanrong's arm, causing a sharp pain to shoot through him. Looking at her tear-stained face, Lin Wanrong found himself without the will to resist.
"This wound is also fake!" Yujia giggled, caressing the bloodied bite mark on his arm, her tears flowing like June rain. She snatched the life-giving water pouch and ran away like the wind.
Watching her beautiful retreating figure, Lin Wanrong mumbled to himself, shaking his head, "I told you—this game is truly dangerous."
