Love Lock

Chapter 260 A Tycoon's Flirting

As dusk settled, the last rays of the setting sun cast an amber glow on the official road.

The two groups of people on their way to provide disaster relief met at the boundary marker of Mianning County. Han Lei's hair was still wet with the dew from the fields, and her dress was still tangled with a few withered grasses. But she saw that Zhao Zun was already standing on the back of the three-wheeled vehicle convoy, looking up at her. His deep eyes softened the moment he saw her.

Before the convoy had even come to a complete stop by the roadside, Zhao Zun had already jumped off the carriage, bracing himself against the edge. Han Lei, a sweet smile spreading across her face, also dismounted, and the two ran towards each other like lovers reunited after a long separation.

As they embraced tightly, Zhao Zun greedily inhaled the faint jasmine scent emanating from Han Lei's neck. His breath stirred her hair and tickled her neck.

"Hehe! You're so annoying!"

Han Lei playfully flinched and instinctively backed away, but Zhao Zun started tickling her waist again, making Han Lei giggle.

Zhao Zun released her, casually took the brocade-eared horse he had lent to Han Lei, and leaped onto it.

"Hey! That's mine..." Before Han Lei could finish speaking, she was already being pulled onto the horse by an iron arm.

Zhao Zun took off his black sable cloak and wrapped it around her like a cocoon, then gently rubbed his chin against the top of her head: "I spent a whole day counting dandelions along the official road, and finally caught a lost butterfly."

The guards tacitly retreated to a distance of three zhang (approximately 10 meters), where only the clear sound of copper bells could be heard in the evening breeze.

Zhao Zun's fingertips traced the red marks left on Han Lei's hand, then he suddenly pulled her closer to him: "Looks like you personally went to the fields to demonstrate?"

His warm breath brushed against her earlobe, and Han Lei's ear twitched slightly. She then simply put her icy hand inside his shirt.

Han Lei retorted, "Not as good as you. You've even trained chickens and ducks to be the main force in locust eradication."

Zhao Zun's low chuckle sent shivers down her spine. Suddenly, he took out an oil paper package from the brocade pouch on the side of the saddle—it was a peony made of malt sugar, its petals as thin as cicada wings.

“I saw an old craftsman teaching his grandson how to make sugar on the way, so I bought one for you.” He paused abruptly, wiping a speck of dirt from her nose with his fingertip. “This thing lasts longer than a real flower.”

When Han Lei bit into the sugar, she tasted the scent of mugwort and saltpeter mixed in with his sleeve, traces of the locust eggs he had burned in the fields for days.

The two were kissing passionately on horseback, while their guards behind them engaged in a lively discussion.

"Giving those five hundred chickens and ducks to Liujia Village was really impressive! They caught locusts like hungry tigers pouncing on their prey."

"When the swarms of locusts encounter them, they don't even have a chance to hide."

"It's like we've met a prince, hahaha..." Their voices and laughter startled the egrets by the roadside.

Zhao Zun suddenly turned his horse around and galloped up the hill. In the twilight, he could see wisps of smoke rising from the distant village. He gripped Han Lei's hand tightly: "We've kept the twenty shi of rice seeds you gave us. Next year..."

“Next year at this time,” Han Lei said, looking at the children chasing and playing on the ridges of the fields, “the people of Jingzhou will be able to see hope.”

The night breeze carried the distant sound of a wooden clapper, mixed with children's newly learned locust-fighting songs.

Zhao Zun suddenly took off his jade pendant and tied it around Han Lei's waist. The four characters "与子同稼" (meaning "to share the harvest with you") on the warm white jade shone slightly in the moonlight.

The solar-powered lights of the three-wheeled motorcycle convoy gradually illuminated, like a galaxy falling to earth.

At dawn the next day, before the mist had completely dissipated, Zhao Zun and his group had already packed up and set off.

The morning dew soaked their clothes, but they paid no heed and quickened their pace to continue their journey.

After traveling about ten miles, Zhao Zun raised his hand to signal the group to stop and squinted at the distance.

"what happened?"

Han Lei, who was taking a nap in his arms, raised her head and asked groggily.

"Look!" Zhao Zun straightened her body and pointed forward.

Han Lei rubbed her eyes and looked. At the end of the official road, she could see a group of people moving slowly, like an injured earthworm struggling to crawl on the muddy ground.

"Give me the binoculars," Zhao Zun said in a deep voice.

Seeing his solemn expression, Han Lei immediately took out a telescope from her spatial storage and handed it to him.

Zhao Zun held the binoculars up to his eyes, slowly rotating the lens to adjust the focus. When the image became clear, a cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

Because the telescope clearly showed the disheveled state of the imperial army's punitive expedition—

The banners were askew, the armor was disheveled, and the soldiers walked in twos and threes, some even using their spears as canes.

At the very front of the procession, Lu Heming sat on his horse with a vacant look in his eyes. His helmet was nowhere to be seen, and his hair was disheveled and hanging down his back.

"Heh! Interesting." Zhao Zun handed the binoculars to Han Lei in front of him. "Look at that young man, he looks like a scarecrow who has lost his soul."

Han Lei took the binoculars and examined them closely, then asked in confusion, "Did they suffer a defeat?"

"Heh! Da Wu shot Su Ce dead that day, and that young general probably hasn't recovered from the shock yet. Judging from their appearance, did they really run into the Tuomugou fortress?"

Zhao Zun pursed his lips, gently stroking his mount's mane, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes.

"That day I gave him a choice between two options, and it seems the kid listened. I just wonder how many men they lost at the fortress, that they ended up in such a sorry state."

A morning breeze swept across the official road, stirring up fine dust. The distant footsteps of a routed army could be faintly heard, interspersed with the groans of wounded soldiers.

In the middle of the column, several horse-drawn carts carrying the wounded creaked and groaned, the military flags on the cart shafts already tattered.

A sly glint flashed in Han Lei's eyes, and she suddenly lowered her voice: "Zhao Zun, should we...?"

Zhao Zun immediately understood her meaning and waved his hand: "No need, it's better to let them go back and report the death to the court. Of the court's 100,000 troops, those who could surrender have already done so, and the remaining soldiers are not good people. I heard from the people of Jingzhou that they looted along the way to obtain supplies."

As he spoke, Zhao Zun suddenly burst out laughing, "I want to see what kind of expressions those gentlemen in the court will have when they hear that the punitive army has suffered heavy losses without even touching the borders of Cangzhou."

The column continued forward, gradually closing the distance with the routed troops.

Lu Heming seemed to sense something, and looked up blankly. When he saw the red three-wheeled vehicle convoy, he froze on his horse as if struck by lightning.

"Hehe! Girl, hold on tight! Everyone, full speed ahead!"

Zhao Zun was also a monster in disguise. He chuckled and deliberately made the three-wheeled vehicle convoy speed up.

The loud, invigorating mechanical sound of the three-wheeled motorcycle contrasted sharply with the disheveled and defeated enemy on the other side.

Lu Heming thought he was seeing things. He rubbed his drooping eyelids while riding his horse. The defeats of the past few days had left him physically and mentally exhausted.

Suddenly, a familiar "putt-putt" sound came from afar. Lu Heming's eyes widened as he saw a cloud of dust rising at the end of the official road, and the red convoy was rushing towards them at high speed.

"On alert! All troops on alert!" he roared hoarsely, his voice distorted.

A guard beside him was startled by the sudden shout and hurriedly asked, "General, what's wrong?"

"It's Zhao Zun, the King of Cangzhou!" Lu Heming gripped the reins tightly, veins bulging on the back of his hand. "Quick! Quick! Prepare for battle!"

The order passed through the ranks like waves. The soldiers at the front, who had been dragging their heavy steps, jumped up as if they had been electrocuted upon hearing it.

"What's going on?" A young soldier gripped his rifle in a panic.

"Zhao Zun's men are here!" the old soldier spat. "Damn it, they're like a persistent ghost!"

The soldiers hastily formed ranks, spears stood erect like a forest, and archers hurriedly nocked their arrows. Unfortunately, the official road was only wide enough for a few people to walk side by side, leaving them with no room to maneuver.

Apart from the soldiers who had surrendered and followed Zhao Zun to Jingzhou for disaster relief, and those who had suffered heavy losses at Tuomugou, the imperial army still numbered thirty to forty thousand, forming a long line on the official road.

The soldiers at the front, having received their orders, were frantically forming ranks, while the troops behind them remained completely unaware of what was happening.

"What's going on up ahead?" A bearded captain craned his neck to look.

The tall, thin soldier beside him scratched his head and said, "I don't know, they've all picked up their weapons."

"Who cares? Just follow along, you can't go wrong." The captain drew his sword and shouted to those behind him, "Everyone, get yourselves together!"

And so, the orders were passed on like a relay race. Some soldiers didn't even know where the enemy was before they followed their comrades into battle stances.

The entire imperial army resembled a startled giant python, writhing restlessly.

A cold wind carried the morning mist, but Lu Heming's forehead was covered in cold sweat as he stared intently at the approaching convoy of three-wheeled vehicles.

The scene of General Su Ce being shot in the head flashed through his mind, and the red three-wheeled motorcycles that were speeding up behind Zhao Zun's horse seemed to transform into ferocious beasts in his eyes.

"General, should we send out scouts first..." Before the guard could finish speaking, Lu Heming interrupted him.

"It's...it's too late!" Lu Heming gritted his teeth. "Order the archers to prepare. Fire as soon as they enter range!"

The guard hesitated, then could only sigh heavily.

Ever since General Su Ce's head exploded, he knew that everyone was terrified of Zhao Zun and was now on edge, like birds startled by the mere twang of a bow.

However… he swallowed hard—he was a little scared too!
On the official road, the tense atmosphere was palpable.

The soldiers' palms were sweaty as they gripped their weapons, their eyes fixed intently on the front.

In the distance, the sound of Zhao Zun's horse's hooves and the roar of the three-wheeled motorcycle grew louder and louder, like heavy hammer blows striking everyone's hearts.

Five hundred meters!
On the dusty official road, the wheels of the three-wheeled motorcycle convoy rolled over the yellow mud, making a sputtering mechanical roar.

Zhao Zun held the reins with one hand and steadily wrapped his other arm around Han Lei's slender waist. His black cloak fluttered behind him like a battle flag.

"Are you scared?" he whispered in Han Lei's ear, his warm breath brushing against her ear.

Han Lei gripped the M16 automatic rifle hanging around her neck. She didn't know what Zhao Zun was planning, but there were tens of thousands of soldiers on the other side!

It would be a lie to say I'm not afraid!

"Scared?" She feigned composure and scoffed, "I still have three boxes of hand grenades in my storage space!"

Zhao Zun burst into laughter upon hearing this, his laughter echoing through the morning mist. His laughter was always so arrogant and annoying, Han Lei thought, as if even if the sky were to fall, it would be nothing more than a joke in his wine glass.

Three hundred meters!
The morning mist mingled with the dust kicked up by horses' hooves, blurring the view.

Lu Heming's army was already clearly visible, a dark mass of spears and halberds reflecting the cold morning light.

Han Lei felt Zhao Zun's chest press even closer against her back. His heartbeat was steady and strong, showing no sign of panic.

"Your Highness! We're already within crossbow range!" the captain of the first-year team shouted from behind in his three-wheeled motorcycle.

Zhao Zun suddenly tightened his arms, pulling Han Lei closer to him. "Girl, what perfume are you wearing today?" He brushed his nose against Han Lei's hair. "It's even more alluring than yesterday's."

Upon hearing this, Han Lei gently nudged Zhao Zun in the ribs with her elbow, "Zhao Zun! Thousands of arrows are pointed at us, and you still have the mind to think about..."

"Hehehe..." Zhao Zun laughed with a hearty smile, as if he had been amused.

Two hundred meters!
The banners of the imperial army were clearly visible, and Han Lei could even make out the patterns on the armor of the opposing general.

She instinctively reached for the magazine at her waist, but heard a soft metallic clanging sound behind her—Zhao Zun had put on a breastplate without her noticing.

"You... ah—" She had just opened her mouth when suddenly her body was suspended in mid-air and the world spun around her. Caught off guard, she let out a scream.

Zhao Zun's arms were as strong as iron, and with a graceful spin, he pulled her from in front of him to behind.

Han Lei gasped and instinctively hugged his waist tightly. The jolting of the galloping warhorse forced her to press her face against his strong back, inhaling the faint scent of rust and pine from his armor.

"What are you doing?" she said angrily, punching him hard on the back.

Zhao Zun laughed so hard his chest vibrated, appearing particularly arrogant amidst the howling wind.

"Hahaha... You just sit obediently in the back and hold me tight!" He turned his head, his eyes and brows full of teasing. "Going any further forward would be dangerous. I can't bear to let you take the fall for me."

An arrow grazed past Zhao Zun's ear, but he didn't even blink. Instead, he took the opportunity to kiss Han Lei's pale knuckles.

“Hold on tight,” he chuckled, “I’d be heartbroken if you fell.”

Seeing that the prince still had the leisure to flirt with the princess, the soldiers in the three-wheeled vehicle convoy couldn't help but whistle.

"Roar! Your Highness is mighty!"

Someone shouted something, which immediately triggered a burst of laughter. The laughter seemed out of place in the grim battlefield, yet it inexplicably brought a sense of peace.

Han Lei was both embarrassed and annoyed, but she had to admit that the feeling of being completely blocked by his broad back was... damnably reassuring.

She secretly rubbed her face against his back, hiding the slightly upturned corners of her mouth.

"Give me the gun." Zhao Zun suddenly said seriously, reaching out to take the M16 from her arms. He weighed it in his hand, his movements as practiced as if he had used it a thousand times.

Han Lei raised an eyebrow and cautioned, "Be careful!"

"Don't worry! My archery skills are pretty good." He held the gun in one hand, while keeping the reins firmly in his other. "This is much more convenient than practicing archery."

Bugle calls rang out from Lu Heming's army ranks, a prelude to the attack.

Han Lei saw the enemy general raise his command flag, and thousands of archers simultaneously drew their bows—the scene was like waves of black wheat, breathtaking.

"Be careful!" She hugged Zhao Zun tightly around the waist, her voice trembling slightly.

Zhao Zun smiled and suddenly turned around, giving her a light kiss on the cheek.

One hundred and fifty meters!

Seeing Zhao Zun ride into the range of the arrows, Lu Heming clenched his sweaty fists and ordered the arrows to be released. At the same time, gunshots rang out.

"Fire arrows!"

"boom!"

The two voices spoke simultaneously.

No, at the same time, a scream also rang out.

"what--!"

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