4 Times married to my enemy

Chapter 18 : Calming his heart

Chapter Eighteen

The cliffside was desolate, and the wind was a bit cold. Qin Shuhai quietly watched Qin Peng, who was listening to his words. Taking a deep breath, she gritted her teeth and said, "Alright, I'll carry you."

Without saying a word, Qin Shuhai raised his hand, signaling that he was ready.

Qin Peng walked in front of him, bent down, and hoisted him onto her back.

Her physical condition was not good, and carrying such a large man was quite heavy. Qin Shuhai noticed that she was straining and frowned slightly, "You've practiced martial arts, but you haven't built a foundation?"

"Ah, right." Regarding this, Qin Peng had already prepared a lie: "A while back, a master came to the palace for some time. I studied for a few months, but after he left, I didn't continue."

Zhao Peng's master was such a person, wandering and playing in the mountains, learning whenever he encountered something he liked. Zhao Peng's martial arts foundation was self-taught; after all, Bei Yan valued martial arts, and even the basic curriculum included martial arts. However, the more advanced aspects were taught by her master, Lin Shuang.

Listening to Qin Peng, Qin Shuhai's expression shifted slightly. He was being carried by her, his hands hidden in his sleeves, gripping tightly to his sleeves, and he asked in a strained voice, "What is your master's name?"

"Lin Shuang?" Qin Peng thought for a moment, "He only told me his name once, and it was so long ago that I can't remember clearly."

Qin Shuhai fell silent, feeling an inner spark suddenly extinguish, returning to his usual cold demeanor.

In fact, it was true; she had died in his arms. He had confirmed her breath, personally sent her into the Zhao family royal tomb, and watched as the earth buried her.

Supernatural forces had always disturbed people's hearts; once gone, how could they still be alive? If she were alive, why wouldn't she come looking for him, why wouldn't she come to ask him?

Even if she didn't come to look for him, what about Zhao Yu? They should have met.

Qin Shuhai thought calmly, gradually calming his heart.

There was no sense of loss or disappointment; after all... he was used to it.

In the years since her death, what kind of mindset hadn't he seen?

He had once crazily believed that people could be reincarnated, raising a large group of Taoists and monks to calculate her reincarnation time, only to end up bringing back a child who was then stabbed by an assassin.

As blood flowed out, he watched the killer disguised as a child roll out from in front of him, and he was particularly clear in his heart.

This would kill him.

Unable to find Zhao Peng, he couldn't take revenge.

Once a person was dead, they were dead; even if they were reincarnated, they were no longer that person.

Qin Shuhai closed his eyes, forcing himself not to think too much. Qin Peng carried him step by step out, exhausted, afraid that the pursuers would catch up, and didn't dare to rest, gritting her teeth and moving forward.

Qin Shuhai sensed her breath was a bit erratic, opened his eyes to look at her, and saw her cold expression as she moved forward, clearly looking very tired.

Suddenly, Qin Shuhai somewhat understood why Lin Shuang had taken Qin Peng as a disciple. In many ways, this person was indeed quite similar to Zhao Peng. For instance, if she couldn't hold on anymore, she would have a stiff face; if she had even a bit of strength, she would think about how to make you angry.

He leaned on her shoulder, feeling a bit dazed from blood loss. Qin Peng sensed that the person on her shoulder was about to fall asleep and couldn't help but say, "You're not going to die, are you?"

"I won't die."

Qin Shuhai forced himself to speak. Hearing his words, Qin Peng scoffed, "It seems like you are going to die."

If Qin Shuhai had even a bit of strength left, his tone wouldn't sound so weak.

After being seen through, Qin Shuhai didn't panic. Although he and Qin Peng were currently in opposing positions, somehow, he always felt that this person wouldn't do anything to him.

Seeing him not speak, Qin Peng felt a bit uneasy. The mountain wind howled past, and now that night had fallen, it felt somewhat terrifying. Qin Peng sought a topic and said, "Don't sleep, I don't know the way."

Qin Shuhai propped himself up to look at the girl beside him, noticing her eyes were filled with guilt.

Zhao Peng was afraid of the dark.

He vaguely remembered.

That year, Zhao Peng was locked alone in a dark room by the Empress for three days. After being released, she became particularly afraid of the dark. Especially when alone in a room, she was even more terrified. Although she had gotten much better as she grew up, the night remained a dead spot for Zhao Peng.

Now, although Qin Peng didn't say it, it was obvious she was somewhat afraid, appearing fierce and clawing but terrified of the night falling.

Qin Shuhai couldn't help but laugh, momentarily unable to distinguish between the person in front of him and the past. He leaned against her, hoarsely saying, "I won't sleep."

"You said so," Qin Peng hurriedly replied, "Let's chat, you mustn't sleep."

"Alright."

"Qin Shuhai," Qin Peng racked her brain to think of something to ask, out of her long-standing curiosity about him, and could only ask some gossip: "Have you ever liked anyone?"

"Mm."

"Who do you like?"

"Why should I tell you?"

"Qin Shuhai," Qin Peng gritted her teeth, "You're not being sincere at all in this conversation."

Qin Shuhai: "..."

"Come on, just say something," Qin Peng insisted, afraid he would fall asleep, "It's fine if you don't say a name, just tell me what she's like, how you met, and so on."

"She..." Qin Shuhai began, not knowing why, his voice was somewhat hoarse.

He hadn't talked about her with anyone for many years. That person's name was buried in his heart; he feared forgetting it if he didn't mention it, but bringing it up would also cause him pain. Everyone thought this was a taboo, never daring to ask him about that person. And he was not good with words, so he had never spoken about her to others.

Suddenly being asked by someone, especially someone so similar to her, he inexplicably began to seriously ponder the question.

What kind of person was she?

"She... is very beautiful," Qin Shuhai recalled, describing that person, "Very gentle, very smart, understanding..."

Upon hearing these adjectives, Qin Peng was stunned.

It was over; the person Qin Shuhai liked back then was definitely not her.

Qin Shuhai used almost all the beautiful adjectives he knew, such as...

Kind-hearted, morally upright, helping the weak, loved by all...

Both smart and a bit silly and cute, both enchanting and pure...

By the end, Qin Peng waited expressionlessly for Qin Shuhai to finish his beautiful wordplay. When Qin Shuhai finally stopped, he noticed that Qin Peng hadn't responded to him at all and curiously asked, "Why aren't you speaking?"

"I'm a bit confused."

"Mm?"

"Is what you said still a person?"

A collection of beauty, wisdom, kindness, along with traits like a little cuteness, silliness, and a knack for using schemes...

Such a contradictory yet perfect person, did they really exist?

After hearing Qin Peng's doubts, Qin Shuhai thought for a moment and seriously replied, "Perhaps she isn't like this in others' eyes, but in my heart, she truly is."

She truly felt pity for that woman... and even more so for Qin Shuhai.

Qin Peng sighed, pondering that Qin Shuhai liked someone, but probably never truly entered that person's world. Perhaps he had only caught a few glimpses from afar and had begun his infatuation.

However, she was still very curious about who Qin Shuhai really liked.

All these years, she had been lurking by his side and hadn't heard him mention any woman. Moreover, the only woman who could make Qin Shuhai look up to her, aside from her Zhao Peng, who else could it be?

Although it might sound shameless, Zhao Peng believed that she should be the most famous and outstanding woman she knew.

The Princess Zhao Peng of Bei Yan, who didn't know her name?

With curiosity, Qin Peng chatted with Qin Shuhai.

They seemed like a pair of ordinary friends, casually talking about their lives.

"Did you hide your true abilities before because you were afraid the Empress would be vigilant?"

"Oh, no, it's just that I'm simply more lazy."

"So, did you keep your vow for ten years for Wei Yang because you loved him very much?"

"The Wei family is quite good."

Qin Peng thought for a moment; if she were truly Qin Peng, she would probably make the same choice.

"And, Wei Yang is also quite good."

Qin Peng had a very good impression of this husband. Although she had only met him once, he had cared for her very much. After going to the battlefield, he wrote to her every month with gentle words.

Qin Peng was willing to keep her vow for Wei Yang for ten years; in her heart, she actually had no unwillingness.

For someone who had never received care, the first time she was treated so gently naturally filled her heart with gratitude and affection. After Wei Yang's death, Qin Peng's tears were sincere.

Not only for her uncertain future but also for the remaining tenderness.

"No one has ever treated me well before; Wei Yang is the only one who has."

Qin Peng spoke, mixing the original body's memories, making this sentence sound very gentle. Qin Shuhai opened his eyes, and he keenly captured her sincerity.

This warmth extinguished the last glimmer of hope in his heart.

She really was Qin Peng.

In this lifetime, Zhao Peng shouldn't say such gentle words to anyone else.

If she were to say it, that person, the only one, should be him, Qin Shuhai.

He was the one who accompanied her through all the lows and glories of life, the one who had kept vigil over her empty six years after her death.

She was his wife when alive, and she still was after death.

Qin Shuhai closed his eyes. By this time, they had already walked out of the cliff, and Qin Peng saw a cave. She adjusted Qin Shuhai on her back, walked into the cave, and placed him on the ground, wiping her sweat as she said, "Let's rest; I really can't walk anymore. They shouldn't catch up to us here."

"Mm."

Qin Shuhai leaned against the wall, eyes closed, looking very relaxed.

Qin Peng suppressed the urge to act, gazing at the moonlight outside, pondering whether to gather some firewood.

But it was pitch black outside, and she felt a bit scared. In the end, she decided to wait until dawn to decide.

So she leaned against the wall with Qin Shuhai, waiting for daybreak.

The cave was very dark, with only Qin Shuhai's breathing sound making her feel somewhat settled. After resting for a while, Qin Peng felt a bit cold. She felt uneasy inside but dared not show it, cautiously scooting over to Qin Shuhai, pressing her shoulder against his.

"Stay away from me," Qin Shuhai suddenly spoke, his voice calm, "Be a bit more reserved."

"I won't be reserved!" Qin Peng squeezed closer, "It's cold at night, don't be pretentious."

Qin Shuhai: "..."

Qin Shuhai's warmth seeped through their clothes, making Qin Peng feel much more at ease.

She had never thought that one day her sense of security would come from the very person who wanted to kill her.

She felt somewhat despairing about her own weakness, but looking back, seeing Qin Shuhai frowning in the dark, she suddenly understood...

Perhaps, she didn't even realize that she was someone who could light a beacon for a beautiful smile.

If that were the case, given Qin Shuhai's appearance, it wouldn't be surprising if he killed her a hundred times, let alone three.