In the northwest of the Great Yan Kingdom lies a vast desert.
This desert borders the Western Liang in the west and stretches northward to the northern grasslands.
Walking in the boundless desert, Chu Zhan pursed his chapped lips due to lack of water, feeling a bit nervous.
After all, this was his first time leading a team on his own.
The weather in the desert was unpredictable. Just now, the sun was high up, and Chu Zhan felt like he was about to be dried into a mummy.
Who would have thought that in the afternoon, the local guide they had hired suddenly turned pale and roared, "Quick! Quick! Find a raised place to hide! A... a... sandstorm is coming!"
Chu Zhan looked into the distance along the guide's finger and saw in the distance that the yellow sand, gravel, and strong wind were mixing together and surging towards them.
"Quick! Hide!" Although Chu Zhan was just a teenager at this time, he was more steady and decisive than his peers.
Although he was a bit flustered inside, there was no sign of it on his face.
However, the others in the caravan were in a complete mess.
Chu Zhan intended to scold them, but unexpectedly, he was suddenly pushed hard by someone. Caught off - guard, he fell to the side. At this moment, the sand under his feet seemed to come alive. Before he could jump away with strength, his whole body was completely swallowed by the sand.
Then, there was complete darkness.
Chu Zhan fainted.
I don't know how much time had passed when Chu Zhan finally woke up. Sitting up, he frowned at the scene in front of him.
Under the sand, there was actually a space.
Although the light was dim, it didn't prevent him from seeing things clearly.
Seeing the light, Chu Zhan knew that this place was not completely enclosed, and there must be a way out.
Thinking of this, he tried to move his hands and feet. After finding that he was not injured, he calmed down.
Just as he stood up and was about to look for an exit, a weak voice suddenly came from behind.
"Water... water... so thirsty..."
Chu Zhan suddenly turned around, and the cold look on his face instantly disappeared, replaced by a strange blush.
Behind him... there was actually a young girl lying there...
Moreover...
She was almost naked!
In this situation...
A young girl with a graceful figure lying there almost naked was likely to make one lose their composure!
Could it be...
Was she a desert fairy, deliberately coming to test his willpower?
Thinking of this, Chu Zhan turned his head away and shuffled step by step to her side. Then he took off his outer robe and covered her with it.
Only then did he dare to look at her.
"Water... I want water..." The weak voice came out intermittently from her mouth.
Chu Zhan subconsciously licked his lips and reluctantly took out the water flask from his bosom.
In the desert, water was more precious than gold.
Because of the limited supply, he had been extremely careful with the water in this flask during his journey.
But now, this woman was obviously severely short of water, and he really couldn't just sit back and do nothing.
So Chu Zhan gritted his teeth, unscrewed the flask, and brought it to the woman's lips.
Although she was in a daze, after feeling the moisture of the water, she subconsciously swallowed it.
After drinking all the water in Chu Zhan's flask, the young girl slowly opened her eyes.
"You..." The young girl frowned and struggled to sit up.
After seeing the clothes on her body, she reached out and tightened them.
Seeing that she had woken up, Chu Zhan stood aside and said listlessly, "I've given you all my water. If you're still thirsty... I really have no other way..."
After hearing Chu Zhan's words, the young girl coughed weakly a few times, then said apologetically, "Thank you, young master, for your help. Qu Ling... will definitely repay you."
Seeing that her breathing had stabilized, Chu Zhan carefully asked, "Miss, are you alone in this desert?"
Qu Ling lowered her eyes, and her tone was a bit gloomy. "I got separated from my companions."
"Then... why are you in such a sorry state..." Chu Zhan secretly glanced at her shoulder that was accidentally exposed. His face turned red, and he scolded himself for being shameless in a low voice.
Qu Ling didn't notice his reaction and continued, "I met a pack of wolves. I fought them to the death and accidentally fell into this place. Because I hadn't drunk water for several days, I fainted due to lack of strength."
Only then did Chu Zhan notice the torn and tattered clothes with patches of blood on them...
Then, Chu Zhan briefly introduced himself and told her how he had fallen into this place. After that, the two of them decided to look for the exit together.
Qu Ling tightly wrapped herself in Chu Zhan's outer robe. Just as she was about to stand up, her legs went weak, and she seemed about to fall.
Chu Zhan originally wanted to reach out to help her, but after seeing her exquisite figure hidden in his clothes, he withdrew his hand...
Qu Ling just fell to the ground.
"You..." Qu Ling raised her small face, a bit annoyed.
Chu Zhan scratched the back of his head and said embarrassedly, "Miss... there should be a proper distance between men and women... especially when a man and a woman are alone in a room. I... have to..."
The annoyance on Qu Ling's face faded, and then her face turned bright red.
Seeing that she seemed unable to walk normally, Chu Zhan bowed his hands and said seriously, "Miss, please rest here. I'll go and look for the exit myself. If I find it, I'll definitely come back and take you out with me."
Qu Ling was a bit unwilling and tried to stand up again, but as expected, she failed.
Leaning against a relatively solid earthen mound, Qu Ling said softly, "Thank you, Young Master Chu."
Chu Zhan grinned and then turned around and left.
Qu Ling was so sleepy that she was about to doze off. Just when she thought that Chu Zhan had found the exit and left her behind, she finally heard Chu Zhan's voice getting closer.
"Miss Qu! I've found the exit!"
When Chu Zhan ran over, he was covered in dust.
Qu Ling's eyes finally lit up, and she stretched out her hand, indicating for Chu Zhan to pull her up.
Sure enough, Chu Zhan was stunned again. He was all awkward and stuttering.
Suppressing her annoyance, Qu Ling said in a pitiful tone, "Young Master Chu, do you want me to crawl over?"
Chu Zhan quickly waved his hand. Seeing her so pitiful, he could only say "Forgive my rudeness" and then picked Qu Ling up in his arms.
Qu Ling: "..."
This made her a bit confused. Was this guy really a gentleman...
Or was he just pretending all the time...
Fortunately, after Chu Zhan picked Qu Ling up in his arms, he looked straight ahead seriously.
Qu Ling could see Chu Zhan's tightly pursed lips when she looked up.
Well...
He should really be a gentleman.
After the two of them got out, it was as if nothing had happened outside, and everything had returned to calm.
The two looked at each other, and then Chu Zhan said slowly, "Do you... know the way?"
Qu Ling glanced at Chu Zhan sideways and then said, "If I knew the way, I wouldn't have ended up in this situation."
Chu Zhan: "Um..."
Seeing him at a loss, Qu Ling let out a soft laugh and said, "Heaven never seals off all exits. Look behind you."
Only then did Chu Zhan hear the sound of camel bells.
Looking back, he saw a camel caravan walking towards them.
"Um... Young Master Chu." Qu Ling poked Chu Zhan.
"What's up?"
Qu Ling's face suddenly turned red, and then she said in a low voice, "Since you've saved me... how about... I marry you as a way of repaying you!"
Seeing Qu Ling looking at him with a slightly blushing face, Chu Zhan stopped in his tracks and froze.
"You... what did you say?"
"I'll marry you to repay you!"
"No, no. I really... can't accept such a way of repayment from you!" Chu Zhan held a straight face and seriously refused.
Qu Ling, who was originally a bit shy, couldn't believe her ears. Her voice trembled as she said, "You..."
"Miss, don't make such a hasty promise of marriage."
"Then... dare you make a bet with me!"
"A bet?"
"Yes! See if you can marry me within a year! After a year, if you still don't want to marry me... I'll give you the Mystery Tower!"
"The Mystery Tower?" Chu Zhan was instantly shocked.
"Yes... the Mystery Tower! I have the right to do so!"
"Um..." Chu Zhan frowned and thought carefully. He naturally knew what the Mystery Tower was. He didn't expect that this young girl was actually from the Mystery Tower...
This was an extremely great temptation for him!
"Then... okay!"
Qu Ling: "???"
...
Fifteen years later, in the Chu Mansion in Yongcheng.
Chu Zhan looked at Qu Ling standing behind his mother in surprise. He was in a daze for a long time before he said, "Ling'er? Why... are you here?"
Qin Zhao gave her son a cold look and said, "Ling'er just saw Qing'er and Zizhan off from Yongcheng. Then she came to our house and said she had something to tell you!"
After saying that, Qin Zhao turned around and patted Qu Ling's hand with a smile. "Ling'er, you two talk first. I'll go and tell the servants to prepare dinner."
Qu Ling was instantly flattered and replied, "Auntie, there's no need to go to so much trouble. I just came to visit you and Uncle. By the way... I want to talk to Chu Zhan for a while."
Qin Zhao still smiled warmly. "Silly girl, don't be so polite. You two talk slowly!"
After saying that, Qin Zhao quietly kicked Chu Zhan and then left.
Chu Zhan and Qu Ling were left looking at each other in silence.
Chu Zhan: "Um..."
Qu Ling: "Um..."
The atmosphere became even more awkward.
Before Chu Zhan could speak, Qu Ling seemed to make up her mind and said seriously, "I came this time because I want to make another bet with you! This time... if I lose... I won't bother you anymore in the future."
"No need." Chu Zhan said expressionlessly.
Qu Ling's eyes instantly turned red. She bit her lips and was too ashamed to speak.
Seeing this, Chu Zhan sighed softly and said, "There's no need for a bet. I... will marry you."