Return of the Swallow

CH 112

Default Dyslexic Roboto Lora

chin on her shoulder, taking in the fragrance of her hair and neck.
He murmured, “…here to attempt an assassination?”

How would Qin Yining ever have imagined that it wouldn’t be Lian Shengjie in the tent?! Her mind was completely muddled; this was her first time being so close to a man.
The only reaction that overwhelmed her thoughts was to struggle fiercely.

“Let go of me!”

“Nope.”

“Pang Zhixi, you let go of me right now!”

“Nope, I’m just not going to! What, you came to serve that old dog and you won’t even let this prince hug you?!”

“You’re a scoundrel!”

“I’m a scoundrel?! You came to offer yourself on a silver platter and I’m the scoundrel?!” Rage came out of nowhere as his low voice shivered with suppressed fury.
He hugged her tighter, almost painfully so as he deeply breathed in her vaguely sweet scent.
He wanted to wring her neck! He couldn’t even bear to imagine what would’ve happened if he hadn’t kicked that old fart out of this tent.
What would’ve this stupidly fearless girl have experienced then?? “Tell me, what would you have done if you’d met that old fart today? Would you have offered yourself or tried to assassinate him?!”

“It’s none of your business! Let go!” Qin Yining could sense the hidden fury and hostility behind her.
Alarm bells were clanging loudly in her mind as instinctive fear made her hairs stand on end.
She used all her strength in trying to wrest free.
If she didn’t escape, this man might squeeze her to death!

Qin Yining was deceptively strong, but her opponent was Pang Xiao.
He could feel how hard she was trying to get free and interpreted it as utter disdain for him.
His rage grew even further! He was trying so hard to control himself so he wouldn’t hurt her, but she didn’t feel any of his consideration!

“You stupid, foolish woman!” He spat out through clenched teeth.
He let go of her waist, spinning her around roughly with a hand on her shoulder.
The other hand slipped around the small of her back and pulled her close.
Leaning in, he bit her lips fiercely.

Well, he wanted to bite her hard, but the soft, sweet sensation instantly enraptured him.
He couldn’t bear to hurt her, so he kept his teeth back and just tasted her.
His large hand drifted up her shoulder to her chin, forcing her pert mouth open.

An explosion went off inside Qin Yining’s head as she froze stiff.
How dare he kiss her! He’d gone and tyrannically claimed her as ‘my woman’ that day in the tent without even considering her feelings.
She had just barely managed to explain that as him wanting to help her and her father, so that the Great Yan emperor wouldn’t misunderstand that Qin Huaiyuan wasn’t willing to offer his daughter.

But what now?

He concealed his identity from her and saved her life, striking up an acquaintance.
She’d genuinely treated him as a friend and thought hard of how to repay this favor, but now he was taking advantage of her!

Tears spun in Qin Yining’s eyes as she struggled with both hands and feet, making mewling sounds like a little animal being bullied.

Pang Xiao’s fury was thoroughly doused by this kiss.
She looked so soft and docile, like a little bunny almost vibrating in anger.
He couldn’t help but want to comfort and cheer her up.
He moved his mouth away and left a loud, dominating kiss on her forehead.

“Alright, no more antics from me.
Shh!”

“Who the hell do you think you are?! How can you do this to me?!” Qin Yining’s lips were drawn into a thin hard line.
She rubbed at her forehead with the back of her hand, tears trickling down continuously.

“Who the hell am I?!” His vanished fury reemerged as Pang Xiao cursed with a cold expression.
“I’m your man! Who the hell am I, you say? You’d rather sleep with that bastard Lian and not me, is it?!”

“Go away! I never want to see you again!” Qin Yining violently shoved him away and took off running before he could collect himself.

Pang Xiao was poleaxed by that last line.
It was almost like something broke inside, as his emotions ran between rage and grief.
A variety of emotions assailed him before condensing into a hard-to-explain ruefulness.
He took two deep breaths in before running out in hot pursuit.

“Stop right there!” he roared.

The Valiant Tigers outside were tremendously surprised when Qin Yining had come running out.
Had she not made a successful present of herself? Or had their prince been found wanting? Their answer came a few seconds later in the form of a barefoot Pang Xiao dressed in only an undershirt.
His loud roar made them snap to attention.
Patrolling Valiant Tigers unsheathed their swords and started running towards the commotion.

The Great Yan soldiers in the opposing camp also heard this shout.
When they saw the Valiant Tigers charging across the camp with bared blades, they thought that Great Zhou was reneging on the temporary ceasefire and started panicking.

“Get up, get up! Grab your weapons! Great Zhou is attacking!”

Qin Huaiyuan and Cui Wenqing flung on clothes and ran out when they heard the alarms go off.
The ranks of Great Yan soldiers who were on guard had unsheathed their weapons as well, creating a solid line of defense against the approaching Valiant Tigers.

Qin Yining leaped past them, running to Qin Huaiyuan’s side.
When he saw the streaks of tears down her face, Qin Huaiyuan’s heart skipped a beat.
He quickly pulled his daughter in.
“Daughter Yi, are you alright?!”

“Stupid woman!” Pang Xiao cursed silently.
He quickly strode forward, planting himself in front of the Valiant Tigers; barefoot, hands on his hips, in only an undershirt and showing half of his chest.
He jabbed a finger at the Great Yan side and shouted, “Stupid woman! I’ll let you off for tonight.
But just you wait, you’ll be mine sooner or later!”