Quick Transmigration: The Sweetheart Everyone Loves Is Stuck in Romantic Chaos Every Day - Chapter 66

But Ruan Tang hesitated.

She hugged the longsword close, then crouched down before Tuoba Hong with her head lowered.

The silver bell on her ankle trembled, releasing a crisp and lovely chime.

Tilting her head, she peeked through the curtain of her hair to see his expression.

This was the great general—on the battlefield, ruthless and decisive, so infamous for his bloodthirst that his name alone could silence a child’s crying at night.

Yet now, his eyes were red, his expression on the verge of breaking into tears.

“Here’s your sword back.”

The girl used all her strength to push the heavy, cumbersome blade back into Tuoba Hong’s arms.

He froze, stunned, and lifted his eyes to stare at her in disbelief.

Ruan Tang pursed her lips, her snow-white little face caught between stubbornness and shyness, oddly endearing.

“Did you forget? You saved me too. So, the debt from last time—we’re even now.”

Her clear peach-blossom eyes gazed at him, brimming with innocence and natural charm, an unintentional pull that ensnared the heart.

But her words struck with merciless finality.

“General-gege, from now on, let’s pretend we don’t know each other, alright?”

Tuoba Hong plummeted from heaven back into hell in an instant.

He swallowed the bitterness lodged in his throat and forced out the words. “Do you… hate me?”

Ruan Tang shook her head, biting her lip. “I don’t know… I just don’t want to see you…”

He always looked at her with that burning, scalding gaze, as though his eyes could pierce through her skin and sear straight into her bones.

It left her unbearably uneasy. It always reminded her of that day, of what had happened—and the shame would come rushing back, stronger than ever…

Hearing this, Tuoba Hong could only believe she feared him to her very core, and despised him no less.

The last glimmer of light in his eyes was snuffed out. His whole body seemed to lose its vitality.

“I understand.”

Helian Zijun, who had long been holding back a jealous fire, seized the chance to cut in.

“If you understand, then hurry and leave. Go send for my men to pick us up.”

Faced with such a blunt dismissal, Tuoba Hong didn’t show a flicker of anger.

He moved like an empty shell, no longer reacting to anyone, his gaze fixed solely on Ruan Tang.

“TangTang, I’ll come back to fetch you.”

He rose and left.

Helian Zijun frowned.

Not “I’ll fetch people,” but “I’ll come fetch you.” Something about it sounded wrong.

Half an hour later, Tuoba Hong appeared again at the cave’s entrance.

“TangTang, the carriage is ready. I’ll take you out.”

At the thought of finally leaving this dreadful place, Ruan Tang’s eyes lit up. She darted forward in excitement, only to have Helian Zijun catch her by the hand.

“Wait—where are my men? Why did you come back alone?”

Tuoba Hong met the accusation with calm indifference. “I’ve already investigated. The assassins who ambushed you belong to the faction of Haixi Kingdom’s Third Prince.”

Helian Zijun showed no surprise, as though he had already guessed. Yet the thought of Ruan Tang nearly suffering harm still made guilt gnaw at him.

Tuoba Hong, as if reading his mind, added:

“Their target wasn’t only you.”

That part had shocked even him when he discovered it. For some reason, those killers wanted Ruan Tang dead as well.

Helian Zijun’s eyes widened. “How could that be—”

“In any case, news of your survival shouldn’t spread. Otherwise, they’ll send more to intercept you.”

Tuoba Hong’s icy gaze shifted to Helian Zijun.

“I suggest you return to your country quietly and handle this matter. As for Ruan Tang—I will personally escort her home.”

No matter how much he disliked Tuoba Hong, Helian Zijun couldn’t deny the man was sharp and calculating.

The young prince cast a complicated glance at Ruan Tang.

He couldn’t bear to part with her, but for her safety, it was better to separate for now.

Still, he absolutely refused to leave her in this man’s care!

He’d rather entrust her to that stern-faced guard—

That’s right—where was Gucheng?

Helian Zijun quickly asked:

“Near our carriage, did you see a skilled bodyguard? He’s TangTang’s personal guard, dressed in black, always scowling—”

“No.”

Tuoba Hong frowned. Who was this now?

Just how many men had Ruan Tang entangled around her?

At that moment, Ruan Tang tugged softly at Tuoba Hong’s sleeve with her delicate little hand, whispering:

“I… I want to leave with Brother Zijun…”

Tuoba Hong’s body stiffened, pain flashing in his eyes.

Did she despise him so much?

She’d rather walk into danger than be by his side.

Helian Zijun was both thrilled and moved, but didn’t dare agree outright. He tightened his grip on her hand and said gently:

“TangTang, once I settle these matters, I’ll come for you again, alright?”

She smiled up at him, lashes trembling like butterfly wings, soft and obedient.

“It’s fine, I’m really strong. I can even protect you.”

She raised a tiny pink fist. “If bad guys come again, I’ll beat them all away!”

Helian Zijun gazed at her, his Adam’s apple bobbing.

If not for the inconvenient company, he would have already stolen a kiss from her lips.

The things she said—too sweet, too dangerous.

“Besides, I don’t want to go back to the prince’s manor.”

Ruan Tang pouted. “I want to go to Haixi and eat giant lobsters!”

Helian Zijun let out a helpless laugh.

So in the end, it all came down to lobsters.

What a little glutton.

Tuoba Hong swallowed down his bitterness and sighed softly.

“I understand. Then I’ll escort you both to Haixi.”

Helian Zijun instantly shot him a wary look. “We don’t need your escort. I’ll have my guard—”

“Your useless guards wouldn’t necessarily last against me alone.”

Tuoba Hong’s tone was calm, but his sharp gaze proved he wasn’t boasting—just stating fact.

Helian Zijun was left speechless.

It was true. Palace-trained guards couldn’t compare to men who had fought and killed on real battlefields.

Even Gucheng alone could hold off ten men.

Tuoba Hong continued, “Besides, fewer people make it easier to move unnoticed. Or would you rather throw Ruan Tang into greater danger?”

Helian Zijun fell silent.

His concern for her safety outweighed his jealousy and resentment.

“…Fine. Then we’ll set out. We agreed to rendezvous with Gucheng at the next town.”

Ruan Tang’s eyes curved into crescents of joy.

“Yay! We’ll see Brother Gucheng soon—I’ve missed him so much.”

Both men choked on her words.

Tuoba Hong’s face darkened.

Who exactly was this Gucheng?

…

Tuoba Hong had prepared a carriage—spacious and refined within, but plain and unremarkable on the outside.

Helian Zijun frowned.

“And the driver?”

Tuoba Hong lifted the curtain for Ruan Tang to board and answered in a low voice:

“I’ll drive.”

Helian Zijun sneered.

“What’s this? The great general, famed for countless victories, reduced to a coachman? Is this how you plan to win TangTang’s forgiveness?”

Tuoba Hong didn’t argue. His gaze clung only to the faint silhouette of the girl behind the curtain.

“If it makes TangTang happy, then not just a driver—if she wished it, I would be a nameless guard, even a lowly servant.”