Da Mo Yao Chapter 22: Fleeing

Finally! After years apart and tons of unresolved issues, Yi Zhi Xie and Yu Er finally meet face-to-face. To no one’s surprise, the guy is clearly not over her, but whether it’s from guilt or love is hard to distinguish. It’s the old adage that with the pursuit of power comes the inevitable sacrifice. I think it telling that the person who helped Yu Er get over Yi Zhi Xie’s betrayal was Huo Qu Bing, and he’s always the one besides her when she runs into Yi Zhi Xie. It’s like he’s what Yi Zhi Xie could have been to Yu Er, if he hadn’t elected to seek power over finding his path within the status quo.

Chapter 22: Fleeing

Huo Qu Bing said “Ah” before asking “The Shan Yu of the Xiong Nu?”

I nodded and he was silent for awhile before suddenly laughing “What an exhilarating day this turned out to be. I actually beat the Xiong Nu’s Shan Yu. Too bad we have to flee for our lives now.”

I looked around as I urged my horse faster “This area is just open plains and we can’t hide. If we can enter the Qi Lian Mountains, I’ll have a way to shake them. The hundreds of miles of Qi Lian Mountain ranges, along with the help of the wolf pack, no one is more familiar with that area than me.” Huo Qu Bing smiled and agreed.

The horses Yi Zhi Xie gave us are indeed prime horse flesh. After riding for a few hours, it’s starting to get tired but continues to thunder ahead at full speed. But the pursuing army behind us can change horses, so they continue to bridge the distance between us.

If they don’t shoot at us, we might have a shot. But if they shoot….. Just as I was thinking this, Huo Qu Bing suddenly tried to pull me on his horse to ride in front of him. I pushed him away angrily “What’s faster. Two people on two mounts or two people on one? Who do you think I am? When you were practicing archery in the Yu Lin Army, I was already escaping for my life on these plains. I don’t need you to use your back to block arrows for me.”

Huo Qu Bing hesitated and agreed “Fine! But you can’t let them hurt you.” The Qi Lian Mountains are coming into view a distance away, so Huo Qu Bing and I get our energy back up. But behind us the arrows are starting to fly, though it is aimed for our horses. Looks like Yi Zhi Xie wants to capture Huo Qu Bing alive no matter what.

Huo Qu Bing uses one hand to control the horse and his other to deflect the arrows with his bow. I also use my sash to deflect the arrows near my horse. He smiled “Yu Er, help me deflect the arrows” and then he picked up three arrows in one hand and released it behind him. It flew out like shooting stars and the closest three horses whined and collapsed on the ground.

I used my sash to deflect the arrows and smiled at him “Excellent archery skill, you hit the horses directly in the forehead.” Huo Qu Bing proudly winked at me “I thank my madam wife for the compliment.” I coldly huffed and retracted my sash, leaving him scrambling to deflect the arrows.

Watching him fussing, I almost started to laugh, when suddenly an arrow came towards me aimed for my back. I shifted to avoid the arrow, but then a flurry of arrows continued to come towards me, all of them aimed for my vital parts. I concentrated now and used the sash to deflect the arrows. The arrows flying towards Huo Qu Bing continue to aim for his horse, and he yelled in rage “If you want to shoot, shoot me!”

When I turn back, I see Mu Da Duo with her arrow aimed at my throat. I couldn’t believe it. In my shock one arrow slips through and Huo Qu Bing has no choice but to reach over and deflect it. His horse is shot, but the arrow only makes it go faster.

“Yu Er!” he angrily yelled at me. I turned and saw his expression and it immediately woke me up “I’m sorry, it won’t happen again.”

Mu Da Duo continues to send arrow after arrow towards me, and I continue to avoid it. Her face is expressionless and now I am also calm, my movements swift and sure. But….but I couldn’t understand. Where was the person who called me big sister, where did she go? Was there only betrayal on these plains?

Mu Da Duo ordered the person next to her, who hesitated for a moment, and then also began to aim directly for me rather than for my horse. Yi Zhi Xie suddenly appeared “Duo Er, what are you doing?”

Mu Da Duo’s hand shook and she didn’t look at Yi Zhi Xie “Shan Yu, we want to capture Huo Qu Bing alive and use this to shake the entire Han dynasty and invigorate the Xiong Nu. But this woman is useless. We can do this to disrupt Huo Qu Bing’s concentration, and it will help us in capturing him.”

Yi Zhi Xie said nothing so Zhao Xin piped up “The Shan Yu values talent and wants Huo Qu Bing to defect. But Huo Qu Bing’s personality will never consent. If the Shan Yu wants to capture Huo Qu Bing alive, what the queen said makes sense.” Yi Zhi Xie looked at Huo Qu Bing and then nodded. Huo Qu Bing saw my face change and worriedly asked “What were they discussing?’

I see that we are almost at the base of the Qi Lian Mountains so I forced a smile “I’m going to take a gamble. If I’m right, then maybe we’ll earn us an opportunity.” Huo Qu Bing nodded “But don’t do anything stupid. I won’t accept it. Either we live together or we die together.”

“I know!” and I slowly reached for my face veil, staring at Mu Da Duo. She finally lost her calm and a look of fear passed through her face. Her hands swiftly sent more arrows towards me. Seeing her behavior, then my suspicion is probably correct.

My veil floated away in the air and I smiled back at Yi Zhi Xie. His expression changed immediately and he hollered “Stop!” He looked confused and dazed. My horse leaped into the Qi Lian Mountains and Huo Qu Bing’s horse followed.

Yi Zhi Xie looked at Mu Da Duo “Duo Er, did you see that? Was that…..was that Yu Jin?”

With a few hundred soldiers chasing us, suddenly there were no arrows shooting at us. Mu Da Duo cried “I……I don’t know. But it shouldn’t be. Shan Yu, Yu Jin is dead. If she was really Yu Jin, she wouldn’t be like this.”

Yi Zhi Xie blankly nodded “She ought to hate me, and not smile at me.” He suddenly shouted at me “Yu Jin, is that you? Is that really you?” I laughed back at him “What do you think?”

Zhao Xin bowed to Yi Zhi Xie on respectfully said “Your humble servant doesn’t know who that girl is, but none of that is important. Shan you, the person we want to capture is Huo Qu Bing.”

Yi Zhi Xie suddenly snapped out of it, and I glared at Zhao Xin. If anything happened to us, then I will make sure to drag you down with me. Yi Zhi Xie stared at the Qi Lian Mountains and coldly ordered “A million pieces of gold to anyone who kills Huo Qu Bing. But do not hurt that girl.” The hate from Mu Da Duo’s eyes hit me like fiery daggers, sending a shiver up my spine.

“Qu Bing!” at the edge of life and death, we have no time to waste. I exchanged a look with him and we both leaned on our horses. A flurry of arrows like the rain came flying towards Huo Qu Bing. I used my sash to deflect it for him, but in a second his horse has been shot through and falls to the ground.

The moment the horse collapsed, he grabbed my sash and used the pull to leap towards the forest. The moment we entered the hillside, he immediately dove between the trees and pulled his bow. In a flash three arrows flew out and three more horses collapsed. The road is narrow in this mountain range and the fallen horses send the pursuers into a disarray.

I slapped my horse and let it fly while I leaped into the forest. I glanced over and saw Yi Zhi Xie pulling back his bow. I turn to look in the direction Huo Qu Bing went, seeing that it is dense and hard to see through. Yi Zhi Xie cannot see Huo Qu Bing at all, but he calculated in the direction where Huo Qu Bing launched his arrows and used that to lock in his target. He sends three arrows flying, all aimed to kill in three different vital organs. Huo Qu Bing managed to deflect two, but the third hits him.

I tightly bit my lip and refrain from making any noise. I run up to assist Huo Qu Bing and he just smiles and shakes his head at me, indicating that he can walk. I nodded and we started running. I let out a few low howls and got the wolves in the forest to answer back. I feel some relief, but when I turn back, I see that half his shirt is soaked through with blood.

The howling in the forest grows louder. Huo Qu Bing follows behind me, and when we reach a creek, I stop to examine his wound. I want to pull the arrow out but he tells me to wait. He runs around the entire creek once, and then jumps in the water, telling me now to pull out the arrow.

I use my sash to bind his elbow, and with my teeth clenched, I swiftly pull out the arrow. His blood splurts out and falls into the creek, quickly washing away. He smiled as usual and showed me how to bind the wound so it would stop bleeding yet not affect his movement. I’m used to seeing blood, but seeing his blood flying turns me dizzy and my hands weak. I don’t want him to have to reassure me at this time, so I try to look calm and keep my hands still. I bandage him up without saying a word.

To hide our scent, we walk in the water upstream. Because Yi Zhi Xie’s is so strong, the wound was very deep. Even after bandaging, it still continues to bleed. Even though Huo Qu Bing looks fine, but his face is growing ever more pale. I looked around “It’s almost dark, we need to find a place to rest.” He nodded.

Suddenly a black form darted out, and I gasped and placed myself in front of Huo Qu Bing. He also turned and protected me. We have the exact same instinct, fearful that the other person will be harmed. When I see that it is Brother Wolf, I am so happy and run to embrace him. Brother Wolf leads us a way to a small waterfall. He howled to me and then ran under the waterfall.

I held Huo Qu Bing’s hand and we walked under the waterfall together. Who knew there was a cave behind the waterfall. It’s a little damp, but a good place to hide out. A normal person would never suspect there was a cave behind this waterfall. This area being so damp, even a tracking dog would lose our scent.

I picked a higher area and had Huo Qu Bing sit down. I checked his arm before turning to leave “There should be leaves nearby that can stop the bleeding. I’ll go find some.” He immediately stopped me “I can handle this little wound. Yi Zhi Xie is intent on capturing me. Even if you have the wolves scaring them off, but the animals are still no match for trained soldiers. We haven’t shaken them yet…..”

I covered his mouth “Because we haven’t shaken them is why I need to staunch your bleeding. If you keep losing blood, do you want me to piggyback you and escape? As a General, don’t you know what is more important?” He stared at me and didn’t say a word. I laughed “I’ll take Brother Wolf with me. Don’t worry, nothing will happen.”

He handed the bow and arrow to me “Do you know how to shoot?” I wanted to decline, but then to let him feel more at ease, I accepted it “I know how.”

A bright clear moon out, the creek waters are rushing, the insects are humming. It’s a beautiful Summer night, giving off the illusion that there is no danger.

Brother Wolf swiftly bounds between the grass and rocks, with me following him and leaping to catch up. I grab some fruit to eat along the way. Brother Wolf’s eyesight is better than mine and he spots the healing grass first. I actually don’t know that the grass is called, I just know the wolves use it to heal when they are hurt, so I call it the healing grass.

I bit down on the fruit as I race back towards the waterfall. Just before I reach the waterfall, Brother Wolf let out a warning howl and protectively crouched in front of me. He faced off with a few large black dogs.

Yi Zhi Xie and Mu Da Duo walk out of the trees. We face each other with Brother Wolf and the dogs between us. My eyes dart all around, seemingly to check if they brought more men, but really to assess whether they noticed the waterfall.

Yi Zhi Xie looked at me without talking, so Mu Da Duo asked “Where is Huo Qu Bing?” I tossed the eaten fruit aside “To distract your attention, we split up.” Mu Da Duo looked at Yi Zhi Xie, while Yi Zhi Xie stared at my eyes, not wavering for a moment. Mu Da Duo’s face starts to turn white. Yi Zhi Xie softly asked, as if making a loud noise will scare me away “Are you Yu Jin?”

After so many years, he’s barely changed. He is still the Xiong Nu’s most handsome man. But I am no longer the girl who gazed adoringly at him. I was silent and then I shook my head “I’m not.” Mu Da Duo appeared to let out a pent up breath. Yi Zhi Xie wanted to walk forward but Brother Wolf gave him a loud piercing warning howl. The entire forest lit up with howls.

I was so angry I kicked Brother Wolf. I howled once and the howling ceased in the forest. Behind the waterfall, Huo Qu Bing might not know what is happening out here. But with Brother Wolf’s meddling, Huo Qu Bing clearly must be aware now.

Yi Zhi Xie slowly walked towards me, one step at a time. My words were intended for Huo Qu Bing, so I shouted at Yi Zhi Xie “Don’t come any closer. If you come closer, I will…..I will…” I pointed the arrow tip at my heart “I will kill myself.” Yi Zhi Xie hurriedly backed up a few steps, joyfully saying “You are Yu Jin.”

I looked at Mu Da Duo and asked “Yi Zhi Xie, whether or not I am Yu Jin, is that important? If I am Yu Jin, what you are you going to do?” He looked dazed still, murmuring “You’re still alive. You are actually still alive.” He stared at me as to confirm that I was really there “But you don’t hate me?”

I laughed “I already said I am not Yu Jin. Yu Jin is dead. The me today has no relationship to you. The person you want to capture is Huo Qu Bing. If you are still that great and honorable young lord, then don’t pressure a simple girl like me. Let me go!”

Yi Zhi Xie spoke to me in Xiong Nu, but I kept responding in Han language to let Huo Qu Bing understand that I was trying to extricate myself and he needs to stay calm. Yi Zhi Xie looked up at the moon, while Mu Da Duo just stared at him with her eyes filled with unshed tears.

Yi Zhi Xie’s sleeve billowed in the wind and he smiled at the moon “Yu Jin, I wish that when you saw me, you would strike me. I wish that you were filled with hatred for me. That would prove that I was always in your heart, and you had never forgotten me. But….but I could never have imagined that you would look at me like I was a stranger.”

He lowered his head and looked into my eyes “No matter what the occasion, whether it was the Shan Yu or the Crown Prince, when everyone else paid attention to them, you only had eyes for me. It was filled with admiration, and trust. You were still young, but it was like your eyes understood everything. My hurt, my tolerance, my anxiety, you saw everything in your eyes. You would be sad for me, you would be happy for me. Is all of that gone now?”

I unconsciously touched my eyes, and then looked at Mu Da Duo “Perhaps in the past Yu Jin looked at you that way, but now there is someone else who looks at you that way. What she sees is different than what Yu Jin saw, but in her eyes there is only you.” Yi Zhi Xie turned to look at Mu Da Duo, and she stopped resisting and her tears spilled forth. Yi Zhi Xie looked conflicted in that moment, and he took out a handkerchief for her.

He suddenly said “Yu Jin, since you don’t hate me, then come home with me”.”

I laugh and reply in Xiong Nu “Unless you want to see me dead and cart back a corpse, then go ahead!” And then I switched to Han “Yi Zhi Xie, my Papa was a Han person. You know he always wanted me to go back to the Han dynasty. I am really happy there right now. Don’t force me, if you have any regret left in you.”

Yi Zhi Xie asked “Huo Qu Bing just left you and took off? Did you……marry him? Forget it, that doesn’t matter to us Xiong Nu.”

I was getting angry “He did leave me. You shot him with your arrow and he can’t move fast. He didn’t want to burden me, so he lied that he couldn’t move and needed me to go find some food. When I got back, he was gone.” I bit my lip and tears came to my eyes. “Don’t let me find him, otherwise I’ll shoot another arrow into him.”

My words sounded real enough based on our personalities, and Yi Zhi Xie clearly believed me. He was silent and started walking towards me, ignoring Brother Wolf’s warning “Yu Jin, come back with me.”

His eyes were steady and unwavering, causing me to lose my calm and I pointed my arrow at him “Don’t come closer, I will never go back with you.” He smiled and shook his head “Yu Jin, you want to use the arrow that I taught you how to use to shoot me? Remember when you were small, you sat in front of me on a horse, I held your hand and taught you how to shoot….”

He continued to walk calmly towards me, ignoring the arrow in my hand. A few dogs surrounded Brother Wolf. My hands were shaking and I said in Xiong Nu “Stop. I won’t go back with you. I wont……” I heard Brother Wolf’s howl, telling me that Huo Qu Bing is getting close to us. I was so nervous that before I could think clearly, the arrow had flown out.

I stare in fear at the arrow, while Yi Zhi Xie pins a look of despair and disbelief at me. Mu Da Duo flew forward and collapsed on the ground in a soft thud. Yi Zhi Xie was stunned for a moment before realizing what happened. He looked at Mu Da Duo with fear and went to pick her up.

I walked over to them “I’m sorry, Mu Da Duo, I…..” I couldn’t continue. How did we come to try and kill each other? I suddenly started viciously hitting Yi Zhi Xie. With his skills, he didn’t avoid me and allowed my fists to rain over his body “It’s you, why do you have to keep doing these things. Why do you force us so that we can’t live in harmony. Why didn’t you let my Papa go? Why didn’t you let me go? And now because of you, us sisters have turned against each other…..”

Yi Zhi Xie didn’t respond to what I said, only looking down at Mu Da Duo’s wound. She took a few deep breaths and looked at me “Big sister, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t hate you. It has nothing to do with you. I even hired Xi Yu people to go to Chang An….” I shook my head at her “It’s not your fault, it’s all Yi Zhi Xie’s fault.”

Her tears kept falling “It’s not his fault, it’s all me. He cherishes me only because my personality is so similar to yours, and he’s filled with so much guilt towards you. I was just envious, it was my fault….”

Yi Zhi Xie covered Mu Da Muo’s mouth “Don’t say anymore. Yu Jin is right, it’s my fault.” He whistled and the picked Mu Da Duo up and walked away “Duo Er, you won’t die. I’ll make sure you live. Didn’t you always want to go to the lake with me to play? When you’re all better, let’s go immediately.”

Yi Zhi Xie turned around and looked at me, like there was a million things he wanted to say. Mu Da Duo held his arm and coughed “Re….really? My body feels so cold, so cold….” Yi Zhi Xie looked down at Mu Da Duo “Really. I will take you to a doctor immediately. You’ll be fine…..” He carried Mu Da Duo farther until they were already at the trees. He turned back to look at me, but then a violent cough from Mu Da Duo made her bleed more. He didn’t hesitate anymore and quickly disappeared into trees.

Under the cold wind and the lonely moon, I stand there staring in a daze at where they disappeared. Huo Qu Bing embraced me from behind “If she gets to a doctor in time, she’ll live. Even though she lost a lot of blood, the arrow didn’t hit a vital area. And when you were shooting you didn’t intend to kill and your hands were shaky. The arrow likely didn’t pierce her very deep.”

Bleeding? I immediately cleared my head and looked around, quickly pulling him back into the cave with me. I gave him the fruit and then applied the medicine on his wound. Huo Qu Bing said “Tear off pieces of your robe and tie it on the wolves. Have them run around the areas you’ve been. Because Yi Zhi Xie has to consider how that girl feels, he can’t come for you. But he will absolutely send people back to find you. Let’s stay here and not leave for the next three days until they have completely searched the area.” I did as he suggested.

The medicine worked like a charm and his bleeding has stopped. I feel relieved and suddenly remembered what just happened. “Mu Da Duo will be fine?” He laughed and hugged me “The powerful Shan Yu can’t save the life of a girl? She’ll be fine. You’re just fazed right now, but if you think clearly about what just happened, don’t you realize that the girl was intending that. In a short moment she used a very powerful tactic to win. How could a girl like that die?”

I was silent and then snuggled into his embrace “I’m sorry. We should have left immediately after we visited Papa. I shouldn’t have wanted to go play, causing all this trouble.” Huo Qu Bing caressed my cheek and smiled “I’m the one who should be sorry. My lady wife wants to go play and I didn’t protect her properly, causing my lady wife to be alarmed. After I chase the Xiong Nu out of the Desert South and it falls under Han rule, then you can play all you want and never get bothered.”

I grabbed his hand and bit it hard. He howled that it hurt and I chided him “Don’t you dare call me lady wife again.” He thought and then said “Then darling wifey?” I acted like I wanted to bite him again so he quickly said “Yu Er, I’ll call you Yu Er.” I glared at him and then started laughing with my face pressed against his hand. Before I finished laughing, I was already crying.

He didn’t say anything and just stroked my hair “Qu Bing, you should know who Yu Dan was, right? My Papa was his teacher. I am not Papa’s real daughter, just someone he brought back from the wolf pack. Back then I didn’t want to be there…..the first time I met Yi Zhi Xie, he……”

This was the first time I discussed my own past. When I got to a happy part, I would laugh and laugh, and when I got to a sad part, my tears wouldn’t stop flowing. From the moment I heard that Papa died and I cried for days, I have never cried about the past before. I was afraid that I wasn’t strong enough, and if I started crying then all my courage would disappear. I pretended that I wasn’t sad and tried to live my life. But today I’m not afraid. I can cry and laugh as much as I like. In talking and talking, I actually don’t even remember when I fell asleep.


Comments

Da Mo Yao Chapter 22: Fleeing — 92 Comments

  1. Thanks so much for all the translation so far, I have read all the chapters you have translate and now I know why you like this story so much, It have everything one could wish for ^0^ ♥♥♥

    Thanks so much for your hardwork really I know is not easy to translate a novel ^^’ SO THANKS AGAIN

  2. Yes! Thank You!
    I REALLY appreciate all the work you’ve put into translating this addictive novel. It’s fun following the plot w/ everybody.

  3. Wow, it just keeps getting better with each chapter. YZX = 8th prince? Now one wonders if this is the last face-to-face meeting between YZX and Yu Er. Out of curiousity, since HQB has been away from his troops/men for some time, aren’t the powers that be back at his camp getting restless for their general’s return? Many thanks for your hard work.

    • By this time, they’ve only been away from the troops for maybe a week. They had sex the night of the battle. Then they took 2-3 days to see her dad’s grave. It takes another 3 days to escape from YZX. I’m sure HQB just told them to chill while he goes and does whatever he wants. That’s his personality and I’m sure his troops are used to it. 🙂

    • I was wondering the same thing too… unless he commanded a higher officer to watch the troop until he gets back. But wouldn’t his men worried about their leader if he didn’t returned soon? Maybe next chapter will tell.

  4. Thanks so much ! I was refreshing the page every minute hahaha! I so wanna know who they are gonna cast as our leads! ARRRGH! Can’t wait for the drama !!

  5. i just put on a pot of coffee while cooking AND immediately goes to Koala’s playground. Yay!!!! Another chapter.

    THANK YOU!!!!!

  6. Wow… I still really really really like YZ haha! I guess I still wish he was the other part of the love triangle rather than Jiu Ye. If anything, this chapter actually made this wish even more pronounced!

    HQB & Yu Er are sooo perfect together! Every interaction they have is so explosive! Seriously HQB is such an awesome man, love him!

    • And thank you Ms Koala!!

      I can hardly contain my excitement for the next chapters! As someone above mentioned, this just keeps getting better and better.

    • I disagree. I find YXZ to be too similar to HQB. They both have great physical prowess, flamboyant, good leadership abilities and their goals are almost the same – to stop the other from advancing into their country.

      Jiu Ye on the other hand provides a contrast as he is an especially good craftman (remember he made almost all the gifts he gave Yu Er), is quite adept with a bow and arrow despite his bum leg, he is taking care of thousands of Han and Xi Nu families while trying not to attract the notice of the Emperor and treats everyone the same despite their social status (remember he hired grandpa and the kid to work for him, he didn’t want girls to be tricked into working in the dancing houses).

      He saved Yu Er twice already. The first time when she was caught trying to rob his caravan, the second time when he looked for her in Chang An. He indirectly saved her, HQB and the Han army by giving Xiao Qian and Xiao Tao to Yu Er which bravely fought the falcons.

      I don’t think you should descredit him just because he is not on a horse leading the war.

      • Oh no, I certainly agree with you Shiku! In all logic Jiu Ye fits perfectly as the other part of the love triangle. In essence he personifies the opposite of HQB. The author even likens one to the sun and the other to the moon. Jiu Ye being the like the moon, is calmer while quietly looking over everything. The methods are different. But as you have pointed out, they are just as significant.

        This logically flows with the narrative. But that’s it though, 🙂 in LOGIC. I was only voicing my preference. I’m a sucker for strong men becoming mush for the woman they love, and only for that woman alone. The sudden change in their attitudes for that one person is such a delight to observe. My earlier comment probably didn’t showcase enough that it was just wistful thinking on my part. I wouldn’t have the novel otherwise. As I have mentioned Jiu Ye fits the narrative, but that does not mean my heart will find YZX to be less of a hunk 😉

        I do have to disagree on the note that YZX and HQB are the same. They maybe on the surface with their strength & leadership abilities as you have mentioned. This though, is dictated by their positions as leader/general (and the fact that they happen to be hunks haha).

        Personality wise, they are fundamentally quite different. This can be assessed by the fact that HQB could care less about power if it meant losing Yu Er, but YZX would make that gamble. If HQB was in YZX place, he would choose Yu Er in a heartbeat over becoming the Shan Yu. Furthermore YZX was always very calculating. HQB on the other is extremely intelligent and has amazing tactical abilities, but I never found him to be calculating. HQB will be himself, regardless of the situation. He will fight for his love. He is honest and straight forward. They are both honorable men, but in essence HQB is everything YZX is not.

        If we look at it in another angle, the difference is even clearer. I’m certain that if YZX was in HBQ’s position, Yu Er would not have gotten over Jiu Ye let alone fallen passionately in love him. YZX could at max be the rebound guy. HQB is such that you can’t help but fall in love with him. He’s far from being the rebound guy, he makes Yu Er ‘s feelings for Jiu Ye seem like a hardcore crush. With HQB, Yu Er is already falling in an “all consuming” kind of love. The kind where if one loses the other, it is beyond feeling pain. It can only end in death as the release. Losing Jiu Ye can turn Yu Er’s world upside down, but losing HQB would kill her. As demonstrated by both of them throughout the last 2 chapters.

        That’s my take on things of course! I hope it was fun to read 🙂

      • @RIS: “I’m a sucker for strong men becoming mush for the woman they love, and only for that woman alone. The sudden change in their attitudes for that one person is such a delight to observe….”
        A girl after my own heart! XD
        wait….are we going for the same heart??

      • @RIS: I certainly agreed with your point in regards to HQB/YZX personality. Now I get Ms Ockoala’s point. YZX could have been the general that unite the whole tribe’s army to defend his country, just like HQB (considering how he lamented there is no single general command different tribe’s army). YZX is YZX, he chose politics instead trusting his own ability, married a general’s daughter instead after his Own sweetheart. Where as HQB does not have hidden agenda. He fight for his country and his woman. Lol … What a man!!

      • @Ris: Yes, I’m glad I’m not the only who like YZX. He reminds me a lot of 8th prince. I agree with your analysis on HQB vs. YZX regarding their attitude toward love and honor. But i’m also a big sucker of what-could-have-been.
        Say, if YZX was born with the same slot in life as HQB? Or Jiu Ye? There are a lot of factors that shape his ambitions: a less-than-capable Shan Yu and Crown Prince, the ever growing Han enemy, the possible demise of his heritage and people. With his betrayal, it’s easy to label him as the bad guy. His circumstance does not justify for his actions, but it does leave me wonder about what-could-have-been.

        Say if the Han court is corrupted, the emperor is arrogant and incapable, and HQB’s talented is unrecognized, all the meanwhile the XiongNu is getting closer and closer to home. How would HQB react growing up in this environment?

        Both of these men are intelligent, talented, capable. They are examples of larger-than-life figures. At one point, YZX is also an honorable and admirable man. Isn’t that why Yu-er admire him, and have crushes on him?

        Even after becoming the almighty Shan Yu, YZX still pine for a 13 years old girl. This signifies his biggest weakness: loneliness. Remember why Yu-er is still in his heart. She is the only one who recognize him for HIM. And maybe that was all YZX ever ask for: love and recognition.

        I like HQB a lot, but out of the 3 guys, he has the least to lose. He’s a simple guy with a big heart. And maybe he’s exactly what Yu-er need. But Tong Hua has paint her character with such vibrant colors and subtle nuances that I find all these characters to be more than just mere accessory for the OTP. In some way or the other, I sometime cheer for them as well with Yu-er as well. At least once, I would like HQB to be put in a dilemma regarding Yu-er like all these guys (YZX, Jiu Ye). I think we will be seeing it soon regarding the issues with Li Yan. I believe this time is the last undeniable proof Tong Hua could show that HQB is deserving of Yu-er than all the other three. And i cant wait.

  7. Such a great chapter again! Thank you. HQB better live and recover from this injury!

    I love HQB and Yu Er together. I love that both can be so honest with each other, and be themselves. I think that is how true love should be, that you can be yourself and know that the other person will accept you just as you are.

  8. Thanks for the chapter. Lots of answers (regarding the person who sent the assassin) and also questions. Will Yu Er and YZX meet again? Has YZX moved on from his fixation on Yu Er and realised that he was hanging onto the past and appreciate MDD instead?

    I am just glad that Yu Er was smart in this chapter in recognising that MDD sent the assassin and how she handled making sure HBQ was safe. They really are quite the couple, aren’t they? Saving each other.

    • I like how the couple saves each other equally. The relationship feels balanced to me, whereas Yu er’s relationship with Jie Ye never felt right; it seemed she was always trying to placate him or make him happy and was never herself. Clearly that is not problem with HBQ

  9. wow! superb!!! really love this chapter…
    yu er confronting her past… opening his heart to HQB.

    she clearly still have YZ’s heart….
    serves mu da duo right!!!

    can’t wait for the next chapter…

    Ms. Koala, I’m so grateful to you for the hard work and
    for giving us the chance to read such great story…..

    can’t thank u enough…. mwah!

  10. Thanks Capatain Koala for the translation.

    Will Yu Er meet YXZ again? I want to hear his explanation for the events surrounding her papa’s death and the overthrow.

  11. I want to know how her father died and her other friend from childhood, (I can’t remember his name :/) the one she was running away from Yi Zhi Xie with; I do not think I entirely belief Mu Da Duo’s statement that he just got sick and died.

      • In an earlier chapter, Mu Da Duo mentioned that Yu Dan died, when Yu’er sees her at the opera house. After Yu’er went back to the wolves Yu Dan got captured. Mu Da Duo said he died of severe illness and insisted that Yu’er died even with his dying breath. Yu’er believes that Yi Zhi Xie killed him though.

    • If I didnt’ remember wrongly, I think her father chose to commit suicide instead of helping YZX to fight the Han kingdom.
      As SkyBlu said, Yu Dan got recaptured and died of an illness.

      • I went back and reread, but as it was Mu Da Duo who was the one telling Yu Er these things… well, I do not entirely believe her.

  12. Her hatred towards YZX stemmed from her separation with her papa. I had a feeling that her papa knew YZX would not harm YE. However, YZX had a wife already, and which father would like his daughter to be married as consort. In addition, YZX is Xiong Nu, not Han. Those could be the reason he asked YE to escape.

    If YZX did not usurp the Shan Yu, I doubt he would be together with YE considering how Yu Dan loved YE. YD intended to marry YE a year before his dad met the ‘accident’. It was as if YZX could read YD’s mind.

    On another note, the only guy could make YE blush is HQB. N the competition between YZX n HQB is a hint that no other guy could beat HQB in YE’s heart, not even YZX.

    That’s my two cents.

  13. If Yi Zhi Xie had captured Yu Er back then, she would be his wife now. And probably the Queen of Xiong Nu since YZX had always loved her. (wow…she could have been in the same position as Empress Wei!) i’ve always believed that YZX loved her to distractions and it makes me wonder how things would have turned out if they had been together. The other thing i wondered is if Yu Er was the catalyst of YZX usurping the throne from Yu Dan. Could he have overheard Yu Dan telling her that he would make Yu Er his wife once he became Shan Yu?? sigh…..all the could-have-beens.

    *whew* just seeing YZX’s name in these chapters absolutely makes my heart flutter. And his doggedness at wanting Yu Er…(“Did you……marry him? Forget it, that doesn’t matter to us Xiong Nu.”) I will fight both YE and MDD for him! What a man!~~♥ *sigh~~♥*

    • I doubt YE would be queen of Xiong Nu if she married YZX. She would be like Li Yan, has Emperor’s love only. The current Queen of Xiong Nu is the daughter of general. YZX need his father in law to fight Han.

      This kind of proposal will make YE unhappy since she never consider herself beneath anyone. She likes her freedom too much.

      • aaaahhh…..i always thought that YZX’s wife was a Han (as it was previously stated that the Han bestowed the title princess to daughters of generals and upperclasses and marry them off to the Xiong Nu.) With the war of Xiong Nu against Han, i assumed that YZX wouldn’t have the support of the general thus be able to make Yu Er his queen. ^^”

        i think that there would be a possibility of Yu Er becoming YZX’s wife. He was the Shan Yu and had he successfully captured both Yu Er and her father, she might marry him to ensure the safety of her father albeit at an older age. The anger and sadness that she felt in her early life was due to her father’s death and that was inadvertly caused by YZX. That killed her feelings for him. But if her father was alive, with time and constantly being together with YZX, she might overcome her feelings of betrayal and accept YZX again since she admired him and he practically adores her. But at this point, this is all speculation of what could-have-beens. XD

    • @Niki, you raised a good point. YZX could have come to known Yu Dan’s love for Yu Jin and his plan to ask his father’s permission to marry the young girl. I believe girls as young as 12 or 13 did get married at that time and age. Remember, YZX seems to find Yu Jin completely adorable and always takes her hunting and takes her on his laps (a bit queer, to my mind, when he’s not seeing her as a child anymore but someone who bewitches him with a pair of sparkling eyes, albeit maybe on a rather dirty face!) and he asks her to stay by his side always she’s still too young to understand what she really means. Maybe to preempt Yu Dan’s carrying off his young love, YZX stages the coup with unintended dreadful consequences for Yu er and her father. BUT he still marries the general’s daughter, probably a Han, to consolidate the power that he hungers for. So, this chap is rather calculating and manipulative whereas Huo Qing Bing totally bases all his actions on love only when it comes to Yu Jin. Huo seems to have eyes only for Yu Jin, whom he intends to marry, one and only love, whereas Yu er may become a concubine if she does accept YZX if her father never commits suicide and she doesn’t flee with Yu Dan, or if she’s captured by YZX. All th could-have-beens are rather sad, especially the case with Jiu Ye, who should have been more energetic, more confident and more sure of Yu Jin’s love for him. He misses the golden opportunity, not less than two years, bestowed by the gods, and thus will live to regret is timidity the rest of his life. Only the brave deserves the beauty, and so I do hope the writer will not cut down HQB’s life at the historically corrrect age of 24. Let him enjoy a long, long happy and adventurous life with his Yu er, roaming the plains and the desert with only wolves for company.
      s

      • (a bit queer, to my mind, when he’s not seeing her as a child anymore but someone who bewitches him with a pair of sparkling eyes, albeit maybe on a rather dirty face!)

        I found this sentence rather amusing when I read it, couldn’t help but giggle.

        Your analysis of YZX was what run through my mind as well. He may have staged the coup to gain both power and love but in the end, love (Jin Yu) eluded him. I glad Jin Yu found someone who can wholeheartedly love her and not share him with other women.

  14. How dare YZX harm HQB. Marry him????

    I’m so glad Yu Er and HQB are together. They are bound…I think HQB is psychic because they did the deed at the right time…before Yu Er’s past came back to try and derail her. Everyone’s selfish, but there was something about his conversation that leaves me questioning his motivations. Talking about how much she “adored” him during her youth was a little too much self-promotion and not enough talk about his feelings towards her.

    Thank you HQB. You rescued her without her knowing it. 🙂

  15. Awesome.. love how it goes..
    wonder what obstacles may come in the future.. Hopefully, no matter how hard, YJ & HQB will stay like this.. somehow, their mutual understanding and caring are so heart touching .. Love them so much

  16. I’ve been waiting for Jin Yu’s meeting with YZX, but never thought it would be so explosive and so nerve-wrecking. HQB is perceptive enough to realize MDD’s tactic in trying to get herself wounded so that the Shan Yu won’t be able to discard her easily once his beloved Yu Jin comes back from the grave. I wonder how Yu Dan really dies; maybe MDD fbricates the story that Yu Dan insists with his dying breath that Yu Jin has died in the desert and he hiimself has burie hr there. MDD may have taken the opportunity to get rid of Jin Yu/Yu Jin once and for all. She must have been in love with YZX even when You Jin has been still living in the plains. She seems jealous and vicious enough to eradicate her “rival” for YZX’z heart. Poor YZX may be a great general but he may not be as intuitive about feminine wiles as our great HQB, who knows at a glance what MDD us up to. I’m so glad JY has finally able to trust HQB enough to tell him about her past and is able to laugh and cry in his presence. She could never do this with Jiu Ye, as she always tries to be what she thinks Yiu Je would expect her to be. But with Huo, she can be herself, with full confidence that Huo accepts her as she is, and adores her no matter what happens in the past. This is really a match made in heaven, though she’s incredibly lucky to have three wonderful guys, admirable in their own ways, who are so keen to win her heart.

  17. Thanks koala! Loved this chapter, especially after the last one had me in knots. Also loving how Jin yu’s multi-lingual gift for Han, xiong nu and wolf came in handy.

  18. First of all, thanks Ms Koala. I love HQB becos he is a man who loves openly. He has no reservation. When he loves, he loves deeply. Oh man… lucky girl, Yu Er and you deserve a man like him when you really love, you love deeply too. Such a match made in heaven. Love it love it love it!

  19. quote:
    ” Yi Zhi Xie’s sleeve billowed in the wind and he smiled at the moon “Yu Jin, I wish that when you saw me, you would strike me. I wish that you were filled with hatred for me. That would prove that I was always in your heart, and you had never forgotten me. But….but I could never have imagined that you would look at me like I was a stranger.” ”

    Oh dear.. YZX, you should have known that from this gesture, she no longer wants to be by your side, and moreover, remember you. Just leave her with HQB. … such an emotional chapter for Yu Er… knowing how MDD betrayed her… Hope she is strong enough to hold this burden.

    Totally out of topic, but I just wish Kyoko in Skip Beat the manga would just let go her hatred towards Shou and the Beagle and just focus to fall in love with Ren instead… That’s why someone said, love and hate are the same things. They create ‘longing’ for us.. Please be a Yu Er, Kyoko…

  20. http://ent.sina.com.cn/v/m/2012-02-24/11483563643.shtml

    some DMY speculations… (arghhhh) basically saying nothing new.. but throwing up more questionable names for the second lead… Chen Kun, Huang Xiao Ming, Wallace Chung in addition to Eddie Peng… no just noooooo…
    something interesting though would be that they were speculating that maybe Brother Wolf will be played by an Alaskan Malamute, instead of dreadful CGI, which LSS (who apparently has never had a dog before) started caring for last year… but whether they’ve planned so far ahead to really do that, is anyone’s guess…
    other than that, the article doesn’t give us anything new… waits for March2nd announcement..

    • Umm, what the heck, who is throwing all these rumors around? Chen Kun playing second fiddle in what’s essentially going to be a historical idol drama? Also, isn’t HXM currently filming Patriot Yue Fei? At least if you’re going to spread rumors, make them remotely believable ones. (P.S., “You” isn’t directed at you, jessie, just at the idiots trying to drum up interest in DMY. 🙂

      • oh no worries.. i was also feeling incredulous at those names being thrown up… i mean, c’mon.. ChenKun is too big a moviestar, HXM is busy with some other work, no comment on WallaceChung cos i dunno the guy… but other than that….. they’re too… sorry.. OLD. the former two, could neverrrr be JiuYe… so can you imagine them as HQB? i’d laugh hysterically… last i saw HXM trying to channel a young un’ was YangGuo and I couldnt stand it… the man’s got crazy eyes….. and Chen Kun… nahh.. nope… no way.

        I could live with Eddie cos I can see his merit and what he could bring to the role of HQB… the only issue i would have with him being casted is that HG is gonna get shafted aside and my GeShi reunion would bite the dust… you know… if they wanted to speculate like this, they could’ve thrown up some other more plausible names of at least young and up and coming c-actors… at least i could have some fun trying to project the possibilities in my head rather than sniggering…

    • When I read that article a few days ago, I rolled my eyes at it’s pointlessness. That was the stupidest article I read in years, but so typical of Tangren’s machinations all over it.

      The day Chen Kun comes back to dramas (i) pigs might fly, (ii) only if he’s doing it because somehow the goddess Zhou Xun got roped into it, (iii) it’ll be something so epic I can’t even wrap my mind around any story big enough to contain him on the small screen.

      Even putting his name out there is risible on the part of this article. Huang Xiaoming, less than 5% chance, and with him already doing Yue Fe, that would be 0% chance, so once again, epic fail casting speculation. Wallace’s fans always try to toss his name into the ring for any “super handsome, refined period hero character”. But after the BBJX debacle, I don’t believe any word that involves Wallace and Tangren in the same sentence.

  21. Hqb really loves Yu er unconditionally. He waited for her to tell her story & didn’t accused her of hiding something or lying to him about her past. He is a fearsome general with ties to the palace but for Yu er his just a man who would die for her without a second thought. Yzx & yui je could not do that.
    MDD is really something! She risk herself to make yzx feel bad. I hope she get an infection.

    • How did MDD risk herself to make yzx feel bad? I thought JY accidentally shot her due to nerves and being scared. Did I miss something?

      • Oh right! Didn’t realise. It’s a good thing MDD took the hit regardless of whether she did to get sympathy cause if YZX got hurt, MDD would have killed JY right there and then due to her rage and YZX would have been too weak to stop her. Then HBQ would kill MDD and YZX (if he wasn’t dead yet)… then killed himself… then the story would end in 23 chapters! 😛

  22. DMY has spoilt my romance buds for Feb & Mar and I can’t engage in other dramas!!! Take Moon that Embraces the Sun for example, although I looooove Jung II Woo and Kim Soo Hyun, their characters are such pale comparison to our heros here. What Moon? If there is one, it has to be Jiu Ye, with his big heart and sad smile as he bears all the trouble of the universe on his willowy frame. If there is a Sun, that fireball is definately called HQB who is undefeated in battle and in love. Can’t wait for more story to unfold! Thanks Koala!! Appreciate your direct translation so that non-chinese readers can attempt to understand the values/thought process behind each dialogue.

    • i agree! ditto that. Moon/Sun is just so…. bland….even if there is political intrigue.. it’s just filler… in DMY, the political intrigue or court drama is part of the character’s worlds and it makes the romance part so much richer then just the sun pining away for the moon and other lame euphemisms.. imagine this love story playing out against the expansive background of the desert.. i can’t wait.. if the cinematography of BBJX is any indication, i’m expecting great tableaus from DMY by virtue of the settings that TH has imagined… (just cross your fingers they don’t engage in cringe-tastic CG too much)

  23. wooh. what an awesome chapter!! love can be so cruel for some people, when jealousy consumes the heart, even friendship breaks onto pieces. tsk3

  24. A little update on the drama: Qin Hao (秦昊) is added to the cast. His name might sound very unfamiliar to many of you guys. But he is a three-times nominee for the Cannes Film Festival, also nominated for Golden Horse two years ago.

    • Bwear, do you know what role he is slated to play? A Tangren drama sort of seems like a step down from Cannes, unless he’s actively looking to garner a bigger fanbase amongst a younger crowd. With his acting chops, if he doesn’t play Jiu Ye (might look too old for the role?), I can only imagine him playing the emperor. Or Yizhixie?

      • a recent tweet (or whatever the equivalent on weibo is) confirmed his participation but also says to anticipate the annnouncement of the other male lead.. so he is definitely not JiuYe….

    • I wouldn’t be surprised if Qin Hao is Liu Che.

      I’ve heard rumblings that Han Dong is going to be Yi Zhi Xie, and Lin Geng Xin is going to be Li Gan. That’s a lot of BBJX alums potentially coming back.

      • Yayy to Lin Geng Xin potentially being Li Gan.. I love that boy.. and i’d love some redux of 14th arguing with RX… I’m still in awe of BBJX being one of that kid’s first acting gigs… he’s got such gravitas and the stature to pull off those military roles- Qing costumes are so cumbersome but how hot did he look in his General gear in BBJX… swoons… coupled with all that BTS of him acting all ‘meng’… ahhh cutie pie… as you can tell.. i’m a fan =P

      • Ha ha, I cracked up at the possibility that Han Dong might play YZX and Lin Geng Xin might play Li Gan. Not because I doubt their abilities to play their respective roles, but because their BBJX characters are in some ways the exact opposite of their possible DMY characters.

        Han Dong played 9th prince who absolutely hated RX/LSS’s guts, so it’d be hilarious to now watch him go bat-shit crazy for JY/LSS as YZX. Similarly, Lin Geng Xin played 14th prince who was in love with and even for a brief stint married to RX/LSS. Now he might play Li Gan, who instead hates JY/LSS’s guts for sending Li Yan into the palace. If we’re going off of the characters that they played in BBJX (which are their only roles that I am familiar with, for both actors), my eyes would be less confused if they switched their roles in DMY, to Han Dong playing Li Gan and Lin Geng Xin playing YZX.

        On the other hand, I suppose it makes greater sense for Lin Geng Xin to play Li Gan rather than YZX, as YZX is significantly older than JY, whereas in real life, if I remember correctly, Lin Geng Xin is actually younger than Liu Shi Shi.

  25. Koala, I like the picture of HG=HQB you post for this chapter so much. He is so handsome. Jiu Ye is so brave, smart and lovely. HQB is so lucky to win her heart.

    • That’s a picture of Hu Ge when he was playing Jing gege. How can HG not be HQB since he’s already perfected the “arching bow shooting condor” (弯弓射大雕) pose. 🙂 Just substitute the Xi Yu plains for the Mongolian plains and voila!, he’s ready to go.

  26. Ah, Captain Koala, I’ve been waiting for this chapter! JY’s past finally catches up with her, and she ultimately makes a clean break with it but not without a little bit of heartbreak first.

    Oh, Mu Da Duo, Mu Da Duo, what can I say about you? You’re even more wily than I had guessed – not only are you a splendid actress, you’re even willing to gamble with your life in order to permanently secure YZX’s affection for you. I am both admiring of and aggravated by you. What’s a girl got to do in order to preserve her female friendships in this heavily patriarchal world, where women happily backstab each other for the affections of men?

    BTW, since we’ve already been discussing casting for Da Mo Yao, recently I’ve got it into my head that the girl who played Princess Minmin in BBJX could play MDD here. We’ve already seen that she can play the “little sister” to Liu Shishi’s “big sister”/Ruo Xi. I don’t know why, but I feel like I can also imagine her switching on a dime to a jealousy-driven woman out to murder her love rival.

    I admit, I was rather disappointed with the appearance of YZX in this chapter. Perhaps it’s because in the very first chapter of Da Mo Yao, we first see YZX through the worshipful eyes of a little girl who absolutely adores him, so that image of an almost god-like YZX stuck with me. In this chapter, though, we see him brought low by his obssession with JY, and it’s somewhat appalling. Gone is the heroism and integrity that compels Xiongnu and Han alike to admire YZX, replaced instead with a grasping desire to possess JY, against her will. It’s a complete turnaround from the first chapter of this book, and even from the chapter immediately prior to this one, and it left me rather disdainful of the character, considering he is first presented to us as almost on a pedestal.

    Captain Koala, I presume this is the last that we will be seeing of YZX? Well, best of happiness to him and MDD; they really deserve each other. (I perversely kind of wish we could see how MDD gets to deal with YZX’s queen, since as a “mere” consort, MDD’s position is technically below the queen’s, and we already know the queen is jealous of the affection that YZX bestows on MDD. I wouldn’t even put it past MDD to eventually murder her rival, if she thought YZX would let her get away with it.)

    In previous chapters, we’ve discussed how JY sees her father reflected in Jiu Ye, and that’s what first attracted her to him. Well, if we’re going to take that parallelism one step further, then one could say that YZX is reflected in HQB.

    BTW, some people have argued that JY is “better off” with HQB because she is herself with him, whereas with Jiu Ye, she is suppressing her “true” personality. To be honest, I disagree, in that I don’t think that JY is forcibly trying to present herself as some demure, softspoken lady in front of Jiu Ye. Indeed, the reason Jiu Ye likes JY so much (and the reason other men are also attracted to her) is precisely because of her feisty personality. Instead, I simply think that Jiu Ye has a calming effect on JY; she’s not consciously “toning it down”, it’s simply that, as with her papa, she feels soothed and calmed by Jiu Ye’s presence. I think most if not all of us have someone like that in our lives – no matter how chaotic the rest of the world and our lives get, when we’re around that person, we feel a sense of peace restored.

    In any case, I don’t really like arguments of so-and-so being “more” deserving to be with A than with B. Ultimately, as the French say, love knows no reason, and since JY has chosen to be with HQB, then it’s certainly a choice that we should respect, as opposed to counting up the reasons why JY should be with HQB rather than with Jiu Ye. Now, if HQB were a nasty, woman-beating piece of work, then there would definitely be room for discussion, but since both are good equally good men (and they even compliment each other as being so), I don’t see the need to beat down Jiu Ye in favor of HQB. In the end, he was the one who wasn’t willing to grab at the chance at happiness when it was presented to him, so it’s his loss, but at least he realizes it and understands the ramifactions of his choices.

    • In defense of YZX life hasn’t gone smoothly for him since he decided to usurp the throne. Before in volume 1 he was a young man full of pride and ideas. He has always wanted to protect his people from the enchroaching Han dynasty and he thought if he became the Shan Yu he would find a way to unite the Xiong Nu with Yu Er’s papa help. He also may hae thought if he was Shan Yu he would be able to marry Yu Er and have her by his side ruling with him forever.

      However, things didn’t go according to plan as the Xiong Nu tribes are not united (maybe because of his illegal powergrab?), the Han are stealing his land, Yu Er’s papa is dead (he would have been his sensei) and Yu Er is also dead (but now she is back alive but is someone else’s wife). So he didn’t achieve anything he wanted to achieve apart from becoming Shan Yu. He may seem different as life has worn him out.

      I have also been thinking that BBJX princess Min Min would make a perfect MDD.

      I also agree that Yu er was herself with HQB and Jiu Ye as her interactions with them let us see both sides of her personality.

      • in response to Princess MinMin being MDD- my thoughts exactly! She’s got that feisty vibe about her and I can totally see her playing the crafty card, albeit more in a spoilt sense of the word and not the evil-to-the-core kind of crafty…
        and this is entirely plausible because she’s also an artiste contracted under TR… and since we’re on that topic of speculating, what could you guys imagine Lin Geng Xin aka 14th prince in BBJX as? Since he’s also part of TR, i would think they may give him a slice of the pie too… I’ve been imagining him as Li Gan… keke.. where I would love to see him arguing with LSS again ala 14th and RX.. (sidenote: Give him a couple more years and I’d love to see him as leading man with LSS.. i kinda shipped them as non-canon OTP in BBJX.. but besides my own selfish desires.. i think he’d make a good Li Gan… this kid’s got the gravitas lacking in alot of young flowerboy c-actors these days)

      • I have to admit I also kinda shipped them too in BBJX but it would be sad as they would be enemies.

    • Yeah, I like YZX’s character (he’s interesting enough) but I’m perplexed by the amount of fascination he seems to have with quite a few readers. He is the classic case of choosing the Empire over the Beauty, and then afterwards wanting his cake, too. Uhhhh….no, dude. You lost your chance, now take a hike.

      • I have to agree and add that he almost sounded “desperate” to reclaim sth. Like a mirage, he was clinging to that youthful image of her.

        His conversation was just s t r a n g e to me. It was all about HIM.

        MDD must be a glutton for punishment because the man is very self-absorbed or going crazy….Don’t ask me why I thought of “insanity” but it did cross my mind.

      • For me at least, my “soft spot” for YZX stems from JY’s own initial, positive impression of him, which was that of a great, handsome young hero. And YZX, on the whole, is a good leader – MDD (even taking into account that she’s going to be biased) even admits that he is likely a much better Chanyu than Yu Dan would have been. It’s just where JY is concerned that he loses all reason, and I think that stems from his unresolved feelings of love and guilt towards her and her papa. To have her suddenly show up alive and well (and as feisty as ever!) is probably enough to make any man go mad, especially when you’ve been nursing a torch for all those years.

        That doesn’t excuse his now-possessive attitude towards her, but to an extent, it’s understandable why he becomes willing to cast aside all sense of shame and honor to repossess her.

        I admit, I was initially confused as to why JY said to MDD that if she (JY) and YZX were to ever meet again, it would end badly, with the death of not YZX but of JY. I guess I was being naive, because I thought, well, YZX is an honorable person, if JY insists on staying away from him, then surely he won’t force her, if he truly loves her. However, as this chapter demonstrated, apparently JY knew best all along – and ultimately, that makes me sad for the character of YZX, who is otherwise a good person (when he’s being rational!).

        That being said, I don’t see YZX as choosing Empire over Beauty. Indeed, if he hadn’t usurped the position of Chanyu, he wouldn’t even possess either, as Yu Dan had made clear his intention to marry JY. Now, whether Yu Dan’s father, the previous Chanyu, would have actually consented is an altogether questionable matter, but at least Yu Dan would have had first dibs over YZX, since Yu Dan was the Chanyu-to-be. Indeed, I actually think that YZX thought that only by winning the Empire could he also win the Beauty.

        On the other hand, YZX miscalculated/did not guess that JY’s papa would commit suicide. JY’s papa’s suicide I believe was at least driven in part by the suicide of Yu Dan’s mother, whom he had loved for a long, long time. And Yu Dan’s mother knew that with YZX usurping the position of Chanyu, her place in the Xiongnu clan was no longer stable, especially as an outsider Han woman and the mother of the deposed Chanyu heir. That, and she was probably also very unhappy by that point, having never liked being sent as a bride offering to the Xiongnu, so she committed suicide.

        So JY’s papa decided to follow his beloved into death. I also wonder if he aimed to drive a permanent wedge between JY and YZX with his suicide, because YZX would now want to and be able to marry JY without obstacle, and JY’s papa, for all that he resided with the Xiongnu for so long, likely still viewed them as “barbarians” and did not want his Han daughter to marry a Xiongnu man. Plus, JY’s papa knew that YZX was ambitious, much more so than the previous Chanyu (Yu Dan’s father), and that YZX aimed to drive out the Han from Xiongnu territory, which is something that JY’s papa, as a proud Han, would never ever have helped YZX to do.

        Basically, with his suicide, JY’s papa could 1) join his beloved, 2) prevent JY from ever willingly getting together with YZX, and 3) not become a pawn of YZX.

        Of course, this is all speculation on my part. Other people’s thoughts?

      • @V you are probably right. Yu Er’s papa probably knew that if he didn’t drive a wedge between YZX and Yu Er she would have ended up marrying him as she was in love with him. He probably foresaw that Han would eventually conquer Xiong Nu so it would have been a bad idea for Yu Er to have been a consort or queen of a fallen country.

      • i suppose with YZX, it’s the case of first love, though the girl in question is so young, physically as well as emotionally when he first forms his deep attachment to Yu Jin. He may see her as a pet at first, but after letting her accompany him on his hunts, taking horseback riding with her sitting in front of him, teaching her archery and she listening so attentively to his talks, he must have fallen deeply in love with her. But, ambition or his sense of survival leads him to accept tje marriage with the general’s daughter, and thus digging his own grave as far as Yu Jin is concerned. She’s too independent and feisty to take a concubine position and her father would also never agree to such an arrangement. I don’t think YZX plays any role in the suicides of Yu Dan’s mother or Yu Jin’s father: these are all the fallout of the usurpation move, but it ends up in Yu Dan and u Jin’s attempt to flee, with the consent of her father. Though HQB is no doubt the dashing hero of this novel, with his consistent and unconditional love for Yu er, and Yiu Je is also the gentlemanly and calm presence in Yu Jin’s turbulent life, still I find YZX the most fascinating male protagonist, maybe because of his flawed character: his love for Yu Jin cannot overcome his overriding ambition, For years, he keeps hankering for his lost love, the waif whose sparkling eyes capture his heart long, long ago. He’s still totally obsessed with Yu Jin, consumed with yearning and guilt,and never able to move on; and now I’m dying to know whether there’ll be more confrontations between these two again. I just ope MDD will not get killed by YZX once her murderous intentions towards Yu Jin have been revealed.

      • Who said her papa committed suicide, MDD? If so, I don’t trust her words now. She clearly sees red now re Yu Er.

  27. Argh, I can’t stand Mu Da Duo. Seriously, had Jiu Ye loved someone else, Jin Yu would never have done that. MDD just makes me angry.

    Thank you, Miss Koala! ^^ I’m so happy they finally met, though YZX behaved really weirdly. Hopefully he’ll never come that close to her again, because I’m pretty sure he would have taken her anyway, no matter how much she resisted. Man, I thought you felt guilty? Oh well. Can’t wait for the next chapter!

  28. I’m surprise no one has mention anything about the way Jin Yu has forgiven MDD. I mean the girl tried time and time again to kill her. And yet she blames everything on YZX. Even in BBJX, Rouxi just went ahead and blame everything on the 4th prince when it was Yu tan that was in the wrong. What the heck? If there is one thing I don’t like about the author, this would be it. Making her heroin so darn forgiving. When in real life you know us females are not that forgiving (at least not until after a looooong while), especially when it comes to another female stabbing us in the back!

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