The Villainous Classmate is My Lucky Star Chapter 240
Translated by Pure
Chapter 240 Wen Yantong the Courageous Combatant
Chi Jingxi's astonishment lingered, his disbelief evident in the prolonged moment of shock. The soldiers surrounding them dared not make a sound, their eyes fixed blankly on the unexpected scene unfolding before them.
It was only when Wen Yantong approached Chi Jingxi that his eyes flickered slightly, and suddenly, his entire demeanor transformed. It was as though a dormant flame had been ignited within him, animating his entire being.
A smile danced in his eyes, his tone tinged with disbelief, "How did you..."
"I was concerned about you, so I came all the way from Chaoge," Wen Yantong interjected softly.
Simultaneously, they extended their hands towards each other. As they drew closer, Wen Yantong noticed blood droplets staining his silver armor, while Chi Jingxi observed ginkgo leaves adorning Wen Yantong's hair.
"You must have been waiting here for a long while," she remarked.
Chi Jingxi remained at a loss for words.
The unexpected arrival wasn't supposed to be Wen Yantong, but despite the passage of time, Chi Jingxi was taken aback by the sudden appearance of someone he had longed to see. However, the perilous nature of Yibei made him acutely aware of the danger to his own safety, let alone allowing someone like Wen Yantong to be in such a hazardous environment.
Observing his lack of response, Wen Yantong drew nearer and whispered, "Little Marquis, see? Wasn’t what I said true? Choosing Older Sister Mountain ensures your safe return to the city."
Chi Jingxi lowered his gaze to her, a myriad of emotions concealed beneath his long eyelashes, but ultimately, they dissolved into a sigh.
Wen Yantong blinked, concern knitting her brows. "What's troubling you? I came all the way here to find you. Are you unhappy?"
Chi Jingxi didn't offer a direct response, instead, he gently patted her head. "Did you come alone?" he inquired.
Wen Yantong shook her head. "Of course not. Fu Zixian and Mu Xingyi are with me, but we were separated after encountering a herd of beasts. My horse led me here on its own."
Chi Jingxi reached out to assess the temperature of her hand. The palm felt warm, but the back of her hand was cold.
Without minding the surrounding soldiers, he grasped her hand and guided Wen Yantong towards the fire. "Just wait a little longer. They'll find this place soon," he assured her.
After days of exposure to the elements, Wen Yantong's hands had lost their former tenderness and smoothness. Chi Jingxi could sense the change immediately.
He guided Wen Yantong to sit beside the campfire, enveloping her hands within his own.
Chi Jingxi's hands had always radiated warmth, a testament perhaps to his robust health and naturally high body temperature. For Wen Yantong, who had journeyed so far for this moment with her beloved, she couldn't suppress a secret chuckle, her head dipping slightly.
Observing her reaction, Chi Jingxi gently tugged on her cheek, his tone carrying a hint of reproach. "You're too headstrong. How could you venture to such a remote place alone?"
As Chi Jingxi's grip continued on Wen Yantong's cheek, her expression shifted into one of pleading for mercy. "I didn’t come alone," she insisted. "The Fifth Imperial Prince sent two highly skilled girls with me. Plus, we didn’t encounter any trouble on our journey."
"You're aware of the war here and the mass exodus from Yibei City, yet you still chose to come," Chi Jingxi reiterated, his grip on her cheek tightening as he gave it a light shake.
"Isn't it because you are here?"
Wen Yantong’s counter struck a chord in Chi Jingxi's heart. He released his grip, looking at her helplessly.
It was often said that only men could speak sweet words, yet every utterance from Wen Yantong seemed to be dipped with honey.
Rubbing her cheek, Wen Yantong leaned towards Chi Jingxi, a smile gracing her lips. "Little Marquis will surely protect me."
Chi Jingxi maintained his silence, his grip on her hand tightening as his gaze shifted from the fire to Wen Yantong. His eyes seemed unfocused, lost in thought or perhaps fixed on some distant point.
Meanwhile, Wen Yantong, exhausted from her horseback journey and the relentless search for Chi Jingxi, succumbed to fatigue. As she finally allowed herself to relax, weariness washed over her entire being.
Before long, she drifted into slumber, her head gently resting on Chi Jingxi's shoulder, finding solace in his presence as she fell into a peaceful sleep.
Chi Jingxi removed his silver armor, his movements slow and deliberate, resembling a statue frozen in time.
His gaze drifted downward, lost in contemplation, reminiscing about the time he arrived in Yibei.
Back then, the longing in his heart had been overwhelming, a sensation difficult to articulate. It wasn't an intense, sharp ache, but rather a pervasive, ever-present yearning, akin to flowing water.
In the past, Chi Jingxi had been singularly focused on his tasks, unable to spare a thought for anything else. But this time was different. No matter what he did, his mind wandered, constantly preoccupied with thoughts of Wen Yantong back in Chaoge.
Initially, Chi Jingxi had intended to allocate his spare moments each day to longing for her. However, upon arrival, he realized that such yearning couldn't be contained—it permeated his being from all angles. After a prolonged period, Chi Jingxi finally tasted the bitter anguish of separation.
Now, with Wen Yantong peacefully slumbering on his shoulder, it felt surreal to Chi Jingxi, almost as if he were living in a dream. He harbored a slight apprehension that any sudden noise might jolt him awake from this reverie. And that once he opened his eyes, the surroundings would remain unchanged, and he was still the sole figure seated before the crackling fire.
Lost in his thoughts and observations, Chi Jingxi unwittingly stared in a trace for an extended period, oblivious to the growing confusion among the soldiers around him.
Wen Yantong had barely begun to savor her brief respite when she was abruptly roused by Mu Yang's cries. Opening her eyes, she spotted Mu Yang sprinting towards them, his voice ringing out, "Brother Xi!"
Sensing Wen Yantong's awakening, Chi Jingxi gently stretched his numb shoulder and rose to his feet. No sooner had he stood up than Mu Yang threw himself into Chi Jingxi's arms, embracing him tightly.
Mu Yang's soft sobs reminded Wen Yantong of a distressed daughter-in-law, rendering her momentarily speechless.
"You're an adult now; why are you crying?" she chided, momentarily forgetting her own tears shed upon reuniting with Chi Jingxi just moments ago.
Mu Yang looked at her with wide eyes, his expression earnest. "I was worried about Brother Xi!"
"Didn't we find him now?" Wen Yantong retrieved a clean brocade handkerchief from her sleeve and stated with a hint of disdain, "There are so many people watching, stop crying now, will ya?"
Mu Yang huffed and turned to Chi Jingxi. "Brother Xi, you should refrain from patrolling next time and leave it to the others. It's too dangerous."
Fu Zixian stepped forward from the side and inquired, "Is the Commander-in-Chief safe and sound?"
Chi Jingxi gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Thank you for your efforts. I heard from Wen Yantong that you encountered a herd of beasts. Were there any casualties?"
Fu Zixian shook his head. "We scared them off with fire, and everyone made it through unharmed."
As he spoke, Fu Zixian glanced at Wen Yantong once more. Observing that she stood unharmed, he deduced she had not sustained any injuries. With a smile, he remarked, "Because of the unexpected event earlier, you left Mu Xingyi on the verge of tears."
Mu Yang swiftly interjected with a punch to Fu Zixian's arm. "Shut it, now!"
Fu Zixian responded with a good-natured smile.