The first light spread over the sand. Morning had come.
Xiao Zhi stirred under the fur blanket, too comfortable to get up. She blinked at the morning light. Her body still ached, but the weakness that had held her 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. In a completely different outfit, he was still as handsome as ever. Xiao Zhi couldn't help but imagine him walking down a runway, showing off different styles one by one. She grinned like a crazy fangirl.
"You're up," he said, handing her a pouch of water, snapping her out of her fantasy. "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, and 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. 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 gently.
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. Even though the air was hot and the ground was uneven, there was life everywhere.
Ruhan dismounted from the horse and offered her a hand. "Welcome to Tughril." He said, smiling.
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 faded into something a bit more genuine. "Not everyone here is a soldier or a raider. People here carve stone, paint silk, sing, and dance. Tughril isn't just a war machine, Princess. It's made of actual people."
Xiao Zhi didn't argue. As they walked the street, she realized he was right. Every corner they turned felt like a new discovery for her. Stalls overflowing with everyday products, the mouth-watering smell of fresh bread coming from clay ovens, and the rhythmic beat of drums and flutes echoing from a nearby alley.
She found herself liking it.
After a while, they reached a small inn near the city center. It wasn't some fancy hotel for sure, but it felt warm and solid. The building was sturdy with walls that were decorated with desert patterns. When they came inside, the air smelled faintly of herbs and fresh earth.
While Xiao Zhi was admiring the scene before her, Ruhan spoke with the innkeeper and arranged rooms. "We will rest here tonight," he said as he handed her a small key to her room. "Tomorrow, we'll ride to 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 on the table. She tilted her head as she studied the garment, figuring out how to put it on.
After a few tries, she finally got them on, along with the hair accessory. Tughril's hairstyles were so much easier than Hua's. Back home, she always needed her maids to help, but here it only took a few minutes to copy the style the other Tughril ladies had. She looked in the mirror and smiled, feeling 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. The food was incredible, nothing like anything Xiao Zhi had before. Roasted lamb with spices, sweet flatbread, and fruit so juicy it was almost messy. Ruhan chuckled as he watched her eat, clumsy and completely absorbed in the meal.
He reached out to wipe the juice from her lips. Xiao Zhi froze, her mouth still open.
Who is this man? Why is he acting like this?
Ruhan, however, didn't feel like he was doing anything out of the ordinary. He turned his gaze to the center of the room, where a musician played, and dancers moved along with the music.
Finally, Xiao Zhi blinked and closed her mouth. She followed his gaze and smiled, enjoying the music, the dance, and especially the food.
This is bliss.
For one brief night, she forgot the grim story she was caught in. She forgot the doomed marriage, Lian Yue, and the dangers waiting ahead. For a little while, she was just Xiao Zhi. A girl in a strange land, discovering beauty in a place she had once feared.
And though she didn't know it, somewhere beyond the city walls, fate was already moving again.