Chapter 204: Chapter 204: Return to the Rightful Owner

At first glance, today’s meal was much more lavish than usual. But a closer look revealed no rare ingredients. It was the cooking method that had changed, making everything look and smell completely different from the norm. It was novel, appetizing, and even the wild vegetables were flavorful.

Those who had already gotten their food were wolfing it down, while those still in line craned their necks, burning with curiosity.

"Did the Fire Head Army get a visit from the God of Stove? Have they suddenly been enlightened?"

Someone’s jest sent the crowd roaring with laughter.

The cook from the Fire Head Army serving the food turned and cursed, "What kind of bullshit is that? Can’t you shut your mouth even while you eat?!"

Someone came out of the kitchen and warned the man who had made the joke, "You’d better watch that mouth of yours, or you won’t even know why you got beat up!"

Huh? What was that supposed to mean?

The men exchanged looks.

The man glanced around, then lowered his voice conspiratorially. "It wasn’t the God of Stove. It was the ’immortal’ from the main tent!"

Ooooh—

With another exchange of glances, they understood.

Everyone clicked their tongues in amazement. ’The immortal can cook?’

Gu Yu emerged from the cookhouse carrying a cup of mushroom soup. She coughed lightly, interrupting the discussion, and swept a chilling gaze over them before walking toward the main tent as if they weren’t there.

The men looked at each other, speechless.

「Inside the main tent.」

Liang Wan arranged the bowls and chopsticks, sat down across from Lu Xiu, and gestured to the food. She smiled at him. "I tidied my hair, donned a simple gown, and washed my hands to make soup for my husband. Have a taste."

"You kicked me out just to make all this?"

Lu Xiu’s face was cold, and he remained unmoved.

Liang Wan grabbed the chopsticks and pressed them into his hand. "If you’d seen it from the start, where would the surprise be?"

The corner of Lu Xiu’s brow twitched as he stared at her. "Your surprise is one enjoyed by all."

Liang Wan laughed. "Wasn’t it my husband who wanted to eat with his men?"

After speaking, she ignored him, simply picking up her own bamboo chopsticks and lowering her gaze to pick up a slice of mushroom.

She paused, then extended her hand to offer it to him. "Is this acceptable, then?"

Lu Xiu glanced at her fuming figure, a hint of a smile hidden in his eyes, and reluctantly opened his mouth.

He chewed it carefully and gave a slight nod.

Liang Wan put down her chopsticks and watched him. ’He can eat even the coarsest food with such elegance, as if he were dining on the finest delicacies.’

She clearly remembered that year by the river, how he had disdained this kind of food and only forced himself to take a few bites. Now, he seemed quite used to it.

’People change.’

Liang Wan’s eyes curved into a grin. "Aren’t you afraid your wife might have poisoned it?"

Lu Xiu’s eyes were full of mirth, and his thin lips curled up. "Then why would you have come all this way?"

Liang Wan choked, her smile vanishing. She lowered her head and picked up a piece for herself. "Because I wanted to."

It sounded like she was sulking.

Lu Xiu narrowed his eyes, watching her quietly.

From the moment she saw him yesterday until now, she hadn’t asked a single question, as if she were angry at him.

Bitterness seeped into Lu Xiu’s sweet heart. His throat felt dry and tight. "Wanwan—"

Liang Wan looked up and cut him off in a cold voice, glaring at him with reddened eyes. "If you knew it would come to this, why did you even start?"

She slammed her chopsticks down, stood up, and left.

She walked quickly, almost frantically. She didn’t know where she was going, or where she should go, only that she couldn’t stay any longer. If she stayed, she would die—either of pain or suffocation.

The people she passed bowed and moved out of her way.

Liang Wan’s vision was blurry. She couldn’t see who they were; they might have been people she had never even met.

Her steps quickened to a near-jog, until finally, she threw caution to the wind and broke into a real run.

A great stone had been pressing on her heart ever since Jinye.

But she had been carrying it, enduring it.

Only when she was completely exhausted and could not take another step did Liang Wan slowly squat down, closing her eyes to catch her breath.

’So tired.’

The next moment, her body felt light as someone swept her into their arms.

Liang Wan had no strength left to struggle, nor did she want to. She leaned limply against him.

She kept her eyes closed, her voice trembling. "Did you think I wouldn’t be able to bear it if you died?"

Lu Xiu stared at her intently.

Liang Wan opened her eyes, meeting his dark gaze, and her lips twisted into a sneer. "Then you truly underestimate me. You are no Xiang Yu, and I am certainly no Yu Ji."

"Mm."

Liang Wan’s eyes were cold with ridicule. "Sending me away was a completely pointless gesture."

"Mm."

Liang Wan took a breath, then enunciated each word through gritted teeth, clear and forceful. "If you really die, not only will I not die for you, but I will eat well, drink well, marry another man and have his children, and live a long, happy life with someone else. By the time I die a natural death in my old age, you will have long since turned to dust! When I look back on this life—no, these two lives—I won’t even remember who you are..."

Lu Xiu narrowed his eyes and paused for a moment. "...Good."

Liang Wan let out a laugh of pure rage. "Good? You think I’m just saying that because I’m angry?"

Lu Xiu glanced down at her but didn’t answer, simply continuing to walk forward.

Liang Wan watched him coldly and confessed, "I know everything."

Before last night, she had thought that Beizhou had abandoned him and he had no other choice. It wasn’t until she saw that book and deciphered its secret that she understood. It wasn’t that at all—he was the one who had refused Beizhou’s terms.

He would rather remain in this desperate situation, to fight a battle to the death. He was even prepared to die.

’How ridiculous.’

She did, in fact, feel a little like laughing.

He probably never expected that his past habit of not hiding things from her would allow her to learn how to read their coded messages.

"Alas, o maiden, do not lose yourself in a man’s love! A man’s obsession may yet be shed, but a maiden’s obsession can never be escaped."

She really had gotten what she deserved.

’Like a fool, I’ve been played once again.’

"Lu Xiu, I agree."

The man holding her stopped walking. He said nothing.

Liang Wan summoned all her strength and struggled out of his arms, jumping to the ground. They both nearly stumbled and fell.

Lu Xiu steadied himself and reached out to support her, but she violently shook his hand away.

Liang Wan squeezed her eyes shut, unwilling to look at him.

’In this second life, I never held expectations for anyone to begin with.’

’He was the one who insisted on conquering my body and soul, step by step.’

Liang Wan took a deep breath.

"The truth is, it was never me clinging to you. From the very beginning, you had your convictions, and I had my goals. We were never on the same path."

"You said we should end it here. I agree. From this day forward, we have nothing more to do with each other."

Liang Wan raised a hand to her coiled bun and cleanly pulled out the jade hairpin. Her long hair cascaded down like a waterfall.

She smiled. "Why do I love myself so? It is for the bloom of my youth. With my heart so full of tenderness, we set a secret time to meet. I lifted my skirt to tread on lush grass, believing you would not deceive me."

She turned her head, glanced down the long street, took a shaky breath, and wiped away her tears.

She took two steps forward, pulled up his hand, and pressed the jade hairpin into it. "Returning this to its rightful owner."

She retreated two steps, composed herself, raised her hands to her brow in a formal salute, and bowed deeply to Lu Xiu.

It was a gesture from the bottom of her heart, with the utmost sincerity.

"For these past two years, I thank you, Grand Commandant, for your care. I will never forget the debt of you saving my life. Though I am of humble station, I have done my utmost to repay you. If you feel it is not enough, then on the future anniversary of your death, I will be sure to offer sacrifices and mourn you on schedule."

"My earlier loss of composure was due to a lack of emotional control. I hope the Grand Commandant will not take offense."

She looked up at the sky. "It is already late. Tomorrow, I will take my leave. Of course, if you wish for me to stay and collect your corpse before I go, I will not refuse. After all, I still owe you for saving—"

"Have you said enough?"

His voice was low and bone-chillingly cold. His dark eyes were filled with storm clouds.

If looks could kill, she would have already suffered death by a thousand cuts.

But was she afraid?

Of course not.

Liang Wan straightened her back and shouted back, "No!"

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