Time-Traveling Love

“Are you tired?” Liu Bugun pulled Xu Caitong over, enveloping her in his arms, and asked softly. In fact, Xu Caitong was already quite sleepy. She let him embrace her, her guard and defenses completely down. Was it because his appearance baffled her? Or because he said he loved her? There was a moment when she truly hoped to spend her life nestled in his embrace, feeling his warmth, which was so inviting. “Entrusted with a task, I must be loyal to it. I need to go to Yanyuan Mountain, but first, I must send you back to Xu Mansion. Xu Fu and Cuilian are still waiting for us at the inn.” “I’m not going back to Xu Mansion,” Xu Caitong said decisively. “Why don’t you want to return to Xu Mansion? Did you leave on your own? Why did you leave?” Liu Bugun asked, somewhat puzzled. “They, they want me to marry a man I’ve never met. They never asked if I was willing; I don’t even know what he looks like, whether he’s fat or thin, tall or short, or if we could have any feelings for each other. Marriage is a major life event, not a child’s game. Would you love someone you don’t know? You don’t understand him, nor do you know his character. They keep telling me how outstanding he is and insist I must marry him. How absurd and ridiculous. I won’t marry him; I can’t just marry him like this, I won’t marry him.” Liu Bugun felt like each word from Xu Caitong pierced his heart like a sharp sword, causing his emotions to swirl and his face to change color. He thought his love for her was enough; what was she unsatisfied or unwilling about? “You won’t marry him?” Liu Bugun asked with a gloomy face. “No.” Xu Caitong answered decisively. Liu Bugun’s expression darkened further. At thirteen, he had joined the army with the ambition to make a name for himself. Over the years, he had lived on the edge of life and death, earning numerous military honors and becoming a renowned general. Countless matchmakers had approached him, but he had never taken a liking to any of them. Year after year passed, and his aging parents grew anxious, feigning illness to urge him to return home and marry. To appease his parents, he agreed he would marry if he found someone suitable. Matchmakers nearly broke their doorsteps, but Liu Bugun had one condition: he would secretly meet each potential bride before agreeing. Each time he was disappointed, leading to the cancellation of his engagements. Xu Puran, a long-time friend of his father, had invited them to his sixtieth birthday celebration. At the banquet, Xu Puran took a liking to Liu Bugun upon seeing him. “Does your son have a wife?” Xu Puran inquired cautiously. “Alas, not yet,” sighed Liu’s father, shaking his head, deeply troubled. Xu Puran, stroking his beard, grew fonder of the idea. “I have a daughter, twenty-two, with the beauty of a blooming lotus, do you think she would match your son?” Liu’s father shook his head and looked at his son. “Thank you for your kind offer, but I fear Bugun is not worthy,” Liu Bugun said expressionlessly. “This…” Xu Puran was at a loss for words, intimidated by Liu Bugun’s cold demeanor. Liu Bugun disliked the sycophants and flatterers around him, so he wandered into the garden, where various exotic flowers and plants were cultivated. As he strolled, he heard the gentle sound of a zither, flowing like water. Following the music, he came to the back garden where he saw a beautiful woman playing the zither. She was the beauty he had longed for. Overjoyed, Liu Bugun rushed back to the front hall to inform his father and had him inquire about her. “Liu, who lives in the back garden?” his father asked. Xu Puran laughed, “That’s my daughter.” Thus, through a matchmaker, betrothal gifts were sent, and a wedding date was set. Whenever Liu Bugun visited Xu Mansion, he would sneak into the back garden to secretly watch his future bride. But now, she said she wouldn’t marry him. “Hey, what’s wrong with you?” Xu Caitong continued, noticing his face had turned pale, his once gentle and loving gaze now icy cold, leaving her bewildered. This big man was truly unpredictable, changing expressions at will. “Are you upset because I didn’t thank you enough for saving my life? By the way, what should I call my savior?” Xu Caitong asked. “Liu Lan.” “Liu Lan?” Xu Caitong, seeing his cold tone, thought, “What kind of name is that? Difficult for whom? Her?” It seemed he was indeed making things difficult for her. Liu Bugun gave her a cold glance and turned away. Xu Caitong was puzzled about what she had done to offend him, feeling annoyed, not knowing where Liu Bugun was headed or if he intended to take her back to Xu Mansion. “Hey, where are we going? Are you taking me back to the inn to let Xu Fu take me back home?” Xu Caitong called out loudly. Liu Bugun turned back. “You plan to stay here?” His tone was not friendly; the sky was already bright, and staying any longer would reveal his night attire, hinting at ulterior motives. “I won’t go back to Xu Mansion with you.” Xu Caitong pouted. “You have to go, whether you want to or not,” Liu Bugun said harshly. “What’s wrong with you? Did I offend you? I don’t want to go back, okay?” Xu Caitong was furious, utterly confused by this man’s sudden change. Just last night, he was all sweet and loving, and now he was cold and distant. “No.” Liu Bugun replied coldly. “Then let’s go north, to find Yanyuan Mountain, okay?” She really didn’t want to return to Xu Mansion; she was tired and wanted to rest. Liu Bugun’s face remained icy. A woman unwilling to marry him yet willing to follow him to find Yanyuan Mountain? He was silent, pondering. Suddenly, the two black-clad men who had died the previous night rose from the ground and rushed towards Xu Caitong. These men had no noses or mouths, only black eye sockets, looking like ghosts or demons. Xu Caitong screamed in terror and fainted. The black-clad men grabbed her and ran. Hearing her scream, Liu Bugun turned around to see the men carrying Xu Caitong away, already several zhang away. Shocked, he drew his sword and followed. The black-clad men carried Xu Caitong out of the city, with Liu Bugun in hot pursuit, chasing them to an abandoned temple outside the city. Realizing they couldn’t shake off Liu Bugun, one of the men suddenly stopped, drew a large knife, and attacked Liu Bugun. Liu Bugun met the attack with his sword, counterattacking with a series of swift, lethal strikes.