The first light crept over the sand, turning everything pale and golden. Xiao Zhi stirred under the fur blanket, too cozy for her to wake up. She blinked at the soft glow of dawn. Her body still ached, but the heavy weakness that had chained her limbs yesterday was fading. She could finally breathe without pain.
Outside, the soldiers were already breaking the camp. They packed their bedrolls, fed the horses, and put out the fire. The sound of boots in the sand and tightening straps was loud enough for Xiao Zhi to groan and open her eyes.
Ruhan approached, already dressed in Tughril attire, his fur cloak billowing slightly in the wind. "You're up," he said, handing her a pouch of water. "Drink. We move soon."
She obeyed, sipping carefully, feeling the cool water slide down her throat. "I feel… human again," she murmured.
"That's a start," he said, the faintest trace of humor in his voice.
The patrol captain approached, bringing two horses with him. A pair of sturdy, desert-bred stallions. "For the road ahead," the captain said in a heavy Tughril accent. Ruhan nodded in thanks.
He mounted one horse easily, while Duran took the other. When Ruhan reached a hand down to her, Xiao Zhi hesitated only a moment before taking it. His grip was firm, warm, steady. With a small pull, he lifted her and rested her in front of him.
The closeness hit her all at once.
His chest pressed against her back, his arm curved protectively around her as he took the reins. She could feel the rise and fall of his breathing, the quiet strength in his body. The scent of his body, mixing with leather and dust, surrounded her.
Her heart stuttered. Too fast, too loud.
She told herself it was just nerves, that anyone would feel uneasy sitting this close to someone. But the warmth spreading through her chest said otherwise.
It wasn't the first time he'd been near her. The memory of the desert nights flickered in her mind.
The first night, he had sat beside her, silent and still, the fire casting shadows over his face. Her heart had jumped when his hand brushed hers.
The second night… was different. Desperate. He had pulled her close to share warmth, wrapping his cloak around them both as the wind howled. She remembered the steady rhythm of his heartbeat against her back, and the faint tremor in her own hands when she realized how safe she felt in his arms.
At the time, she'd been too weak, too feverish to think. But now…now she was very aware of every breath he took.
Ruhan nudged the horse with his heel and let out a sharp "Hyah!" The animal started forward smoothly, jolting Xiao Zhi out of her thoughts.
"Hold on," he said quietly.
She did, gripping the saddle tighter, trying to calm her racing pulse.
The desert began to change as they rode. The dunes flattened, the sand darkened, and patches of stubborn grass appeared among scattered rocks. They slowly left the cruel desert and onto a grass-filled savannah. The air grew heavier, tinged with moisture. And then, after a few hours, the horizon shifted.
The Tughril border city rose before them like a mirage that slowly turned real as they took each step closer.
Tall sandstone walls gleamed in the sun, carved with patterns that caught the light. Beyond the gates, she could see movement. Carts rolling, people shouting, a view of a normal city crowd.
As she stepped inside the city gate, Xiao Zhi's breath caught in awe.
It wasn't what she had imagined.
Not the same calm beauty of Hua cities, with their willows, rivers, and quiet courtyards. But Tughril was alive. A rush of sound, color, and dust was decorating the small city. The streets bustled with merchants in long robes, camels loaded with silk and pottery, even children darting between stalls. Laughter mixed with the calls of traders advertising fruits, spices, and jewelry that sparkled in the sun. Though the air was hot and the ground uneven, there was life everywhere.
Ruhan dismounted and offered her a hand. "Welcome to Tughril," he said, a small smile on his lips.
She took his hand and stepped down, her legs unsteady. "It's… incredible," she whispered.
He studied her face, amused. "Not what you expected, huh?"
"I thought everything here would be harsh, wild… barbaric even," she admitted. "But it's…beautiful. Rough, but beautiful."
Ruhan's smirk softened. "Not everyone here is a soldier or a raider. Some carve stone, some paint silk, some sing songs and dance. Tughril isn't just made of war, Princess. It is made of people."
Ruhan's words stayed with her as they walked through the streets. Every turn revealed something new. Silver jewelry that shimmered like captured sunlight, bread baking in clay ovens, painted masks, and strange music filled with drums and flutes.
After a while, they reached a modest inn near the city center. The building was sturdy and warm, its walls painted with desert patterns. Inside, the air smelled faintly of herbs and clays.
Ruhan spoke with the innkeeper and arranged rooms. "You'll rest here tonight," he said, handing her a small key. "Tomorrow, we ride for the capital."
Xiao Zhi nodded, exhausted but content. When a maid brought a basin of warm water to her room, she almost cried with relief. She washed slowly, enjoying the feeling of the grime washing away. Her hair was clean again, and her soft skin slowly returned.
Ruhan had left a Tughril-style dress for her. She tilted her head as she studied the garment, not knowing how to put it on. After a few failed attempts, she finally managed to put them on, along with the headdress that came with it. Tughril's hairstyle was so much easier than Hua's. It only took her a few minutes to replicate the style she saw the other Tughril ladies had when she came into the inn. She looked at her reflection in the mirror and felt satisfied. She felt like a new person.
When she came out, Ruhan was waiting outside her door. He froze when he saw her, jaw almost wide open. Then, with a small, appreciative tilt of his head, he said, "You look… stunning. Tughril's fashion suits you."
Color rose to her cheeks. "You think so?"
He nodded once. "I know so."
She laughed softly, twirling around slowly. "I actually like this. It's light but elegant."
That evening, they shared a meal downstairs. Some roasted lamb seasoned with cumin and mint, sweet flatbread with honey, and fruits that burst with juice. A musician plucked a stringed instrument in the corner, the melody winding softly through the room.
Ruhan explained the dances, the songs, and the customs of the city. She listened, enchanted. For the first time since she'd fallen into this cursed story, she felt… human again.
When she laughed, really laughed, Ruhan's expression softened. "See? Not all doom and gloom," he said quietly.
"No," she agreed, smiling. "Maybe… living here isn't so bad after all."
Later, when the night deepened and the music faded, Xiao Zhi stood by the window of her room, gazing at the moonlit streets. The city below shimmered faintly. Warm, alive, unfamiliar, but not unkind.
For one brief night, she forgot the story's grim plot. She forgot the doomed marriage, Lian Yue, and the dangers waiting ahead. She let herself be just Xiao Zhi. A girl in a strange land, finding beauty in a place she had once feared.
And though she didn't know it, somewhere beyond those city walls, fate was already moving again.