The God of War Who Protects the Nation: Starting with Saving a Mother and Daughter in Distress

After an unknown amount of time, the steam in the bathroom gradually dissipated, and Qin An carefully picked up Li Qingwan, whose body was sore and weak.

She nestled obediently in his arms like a lazy cat.

Her dark hair was damp with moisture, clinging to her flushed cheeks. Her breathing was rapid and warm, her eyes were hazy as if veiled by a layer of mist, and even her eyelashes were damp with moisture.

Qin An took a brocade quilt from the side and wrapped her up tightly, leaving only her flushed little face exposed, before carrying her to the bedroom.

The flickering candlelight in the bedroom made the orchid-patterned curtains on the walls appear even softer.

Qin An gently placed Li Qingwan on the couch covered with a mandarin duck brocade quilt, and leaned down to kiss away the tear stains that were still wet at the corners of her eyes, the teardrops carrying a warm, salty taste.

His voice was terribly hoarse: "Tired?"

Li Qingwan nodded weakly, then shook her head.

Her slender arms, with a strength that seemed to come from nowhere, gently hooked around his neck, pressed her cheek against his ear, and breathed softly, her voice inviting: "Husband..."

That soft call, like a spark thrown into a brazier, instantly ignited a flame in Qin An's heart.

He knew that he had always been strong-willed, while Li Qingwan had always been gentle and timid, and had always been careful to yield to him. He was afraid that she could not withstand such a torment.

But seeing the undisguised affection in her eyes, his reservations were ultimately overwhelmed by his surging emotions.

The night was long, and the candlelight inside the tent flickered, casting two intertwined figures on the tent wall, sometimes bright and sometimes dim.

At first, Li Qingwan could respond softly, but later all that remained were suppressed moans, like trembling strings in the wind.

In the end, she was completely exhausted and could only lean weakly against him, without even the strength to move a finger.

Only her chest was still rising and falling slightly, and tiny teardrops clung to her eyelashes.

Qin An embraced her, his fingertips gently stroking her sweat-dampened hair, which was as smooth as silk and carried a faint floral fragrance and moisture.

His heart was filled with an indescribable sense of satisfaction, a mixture of the preciousness of a long-awaited reunion and the reassurance of holding her in his arms. He lowered his head and kissed her forehead gently, as if afraid of disturbing her: "You should rest."

Li Qingwan blinked her heavy eyelids, her voice barely audible: "Husband... if you still want it, go find Miss Shan. Don't wrong yourself."

Qin An was stunned for a moment, then chuckled softly, his laughter accompanied by a vibration in his chest.

This girl is so tired, yet she's still thinking about these things.

He gently pinched her blushing cheeks, his tone full of affection: "I'll stay with you for a while."

Li Qingwan then stopped talking.

The two chatted for nearly an hour before noticing Qin An's unusual behavior again, and then urged, "Husband, I need to rest a little longer. Go find Miss Shan!"

Qin An was indeed still a little unsatisfied.

Although Shan Bing had always been by their side, when the two of them were together, the occasion wasn't right, so they couldn't always enjoy themselves to the fullest.

Now that I'm back home, my enthusiasm has been completely reignited.

Unfortunately, Li Qingwan was unable to bear it.

Since she was so magnanimous, Qin An stopped being coy, put on an overcoat, and walked towards the west wing.

The lights were still on in the west wing. Shan Bing was sitting at the dressing table by the window, staring blankly at the lush pomegranate tree in the courtyard.

Hearing footsteps, she turned around abruptly, and the hairpin in her hand fell onto the table with a "clatter".

Upon seeing Qin An, a flicker of panic crossed his eyes. He quickly stood up, his hands nervously clasped together: "General..."

"Still not asleep?" Qin An walked into the room, his gaze sweeping over the teacup on the table. The tea had long since gone cold, indicating that she had been sitting there for a long time.

Dan Bing lowered her head, her voice muffled: "I can't sleep."

In this unfamiliar mansion, listening to the faint chirping of insects in the distance, she felt uneasy.

Qin An sat down on the chair next to her, remained silent for a moment, and then slowly said, "Wan'er asked me to come and see you."

Dan Bing looked up abruptly, her eyes filled with surprise: "She...her sister sent you?"

"Hmm." Qin An nodded, his tone calm. "She said you've just arrived at the manor and might not be used to the routine here, so she asked me to keep you company and let her know if you need anything."

Dan Bing stared at him blankly, her heart filled with a mix of emotions, a bittersweet feeling that surged up all at once.

She originally thought that Li Qingwan, as the first to accept the woman, would definitely harbor resentment towards her, a woman who had suddenly appeared, and might even deliberately make things difficult for her.

Unexpectedly, he was so generous, even taking the initiative to let Qin An accompany him.

This magnanimity made her feel inferior, and it also greatly relieved her unease.

"I... I should be the one to pay my respects to my sister," Shan Bing said in a low voice, her tone somewhat solemn. "Having just entered the manor, I must follow the proper etiquette."

Seeing how sensible she was, Qin An's eyes flashed with approval.

Although this girl had served in the military and was straightforward, she also knew how to be tactful: "That's good. She has a gentle nature, and you two will definitely get along."

Dan Bing nodded, her unease largely dissipating, and she even felt a sense of anticipation.

She looked up at Qin An and saw the weariness between his brows. She couldn't help but reach out to smooth the wrinkles between his brows.

Just as my fingertips were about to touch it, they hesitated and stopped in mid-air.

Qin An grasped her hand; it was slightly cool to the touch and trembled with a hint of nervousness.

He looked at her. In the candlelight, her skin, though not as fair as Li Qingwan's, had a healthy tan. Her eyes shone like stars in the night sky, clean and passionate.

On a sudden impulse, he leaned down and kissed her lips.

Dan Bing's body stiffened for a moment, as if she was at a loss, then she relaxed and awkwardly responded to his kiss.

She lacked Li Qingwan's tenderness and lingering affection; her kisses were somewhat awkward, yet they exuded a straightforward passion, like a wind blowing freely in the wilderness, carrying a primal and vibrant life force.

Just as their breathing became erratic and the candlelight seemed to flicker more violently, Shan Bing suddenly pushed him away gently, her cheeks flushed and her breathing becoming somewhat rapid.

"General, I should go and pay my respects to my sister first. It's better to do this sooner rather than later, lest my sister think I don't know the proper etiquette."

Qin An was taken aback, but then he understood what she meant.

She wanted to take the initiative to show goodwill and completely dispel Li Qingwan's concerns with her actions, so as to make the relationship in the mansion more harmonious.

This idea was much more comprehensive than I had imagined.

"Alright." Qin An stood up, straightened his clothes, and said, "Let's go."

When the two arrived at the main house, Li Qingwan was still savoring the satisfaction she had just experienced.

She was leaning against the headboard, not bothering to tidy up, her alluring figure on full display.

Upon seeing them enter, she was momentarily flustered, but quickly regained her composure without showing any displeasure.

After all, she had played with Jin Ping before, so there was nothing she couldn't let go of.

In addition, she knew that her body was relatively weak, while Qin An was a veteran of many battles, full of energy, and his combat strength was exceptionally strong.

Now that there's Shan Bing here, perhaps she can share some of the burden, and things will be more stable in the manor in the future, so there's nothing I care about too much.

Seeing them arrive at this time, a gentle smile appeared on her face, and her voice, though still weak, remained soft: "You've come."

Dan Bing stepped forward, knelt down respectfully, and bowed with perfect form and solemnity: "This humble servant is Dan Bing, greetings to my elder sister."

Li Qingwan quickly raised her hand in a gesture of respect and said with a smile, "Sister, please get up. We're all family, no need for such formalities."

She took Shan Bing's hand and looked her over carefully.

At this moment, Shan Bing had already changed into the women's clothing prepared by Jin Ping.

Wearing a light pink ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), her skin looked even healthier, and the fierceness in her eyes was softened. She was indeed a rare and charming girl.

Li Qingwan's smile deepened: "My dear sister, you are truly a sight to behold. Since we can become sisters, it is an incredible fate. You should be more at ease, sister. This will be your home from now on, so there's no need to be reserved."

Dan Bing hadn't expected her to be so approachable, even her tone was genuinely warm, and the last bit of distance between them vanished without a trace.

She blushed and said somewhat shyly, "Yes, sister."

Li Qingwan pulled her to sit down on the edge of the couch and said with a smile, "Sister, you must have suffered a lot since you just returned from the front lines. In the future, if there's anything you want to eat or use in the manor, just tell me. Don't be shy, just treat yourself as if you're at home."

"Thank you, sister." Shan Bing held the teacup, her fingertips still a little hot, but her heart was warm.

Qin An sat on a chair to the side, watching them chat happily. One was gentle and the other was straightforward, and they got along very well.

The weight on his heart was completely lifted. He had been worried that the two of them would develop a rift and affect the peace of the manor, but now it seemed that he had worried too much.

Li Qingwan and Shan Bing chatted, from interesting things in Beijing to their experiences at the front.

Although Shan Bing was a woman, she had also been on the battlefield. When she talked about those battles, although she was still a little scared, she described them vividly and with a sense of thrill.

Li Qingwan listened intently, occasionally exclaiming in surprise, her eyes filled with admiration as she looked at Shan Bing: "My sister actually knows some martial arts?"

She grew up in seclusion, surrounded by music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Although she had heard about the battlefield, she had never heard it so clearly before.

Dan Bing smiled somewhat embarrassedly, revealing two small dimples: "I only know some rudimentary skills. I'm passable at riding horses and archery, but in front of a general, I'm nothing."

"You're too modest, little sister," Li Qingwan said, her tone full of sincerity. "It's rare for a woman to have such courage, unlike me, who can't even bear to watch a chicken being killed, let alone go to the battlefield."

The two smiled at each other, and the awkwardness in the air completely disappeared, making the atmosphere even more harmonious.

Looking at the scene before him, Qin An saw the warm candlelight, the fragrant aroma of tea, and the two women chatting and laughing. A smile involuntarily appeared on his face as well.

To be honest, he was a little worried before this.

After all, Shan Bing was violently conquered by him. If she really had any bad intentions, bringing her back would be like a time bomb.

But now it seems that I don't need to worry about so many people.