Stealing A Wife With Only A Piece of Candy - Chapter 1

Chapter 1: A Mission Most Sweet

Chu Ning never imagined that one day, to save her life, she would have to hide beneath the surface of a river in such a wretched state.

She held her breath desperately, even making sure the bubbles rising from her lips were subtle, terrified that the slightest sound would alert the pursuers scouring the banks above. Somewhere, an unknown group of attackers was still searching for any sign of them.

Chu Ning struggled to open her eyes. The murky lake water stung them, making her vision blur. Through the haze, she saw Lu Zhidao standing right in front of her, staring at her expressionlessly. Tiny bubbles occasionally escaped Lu’s lips, but she looked as though she could hold out for a long time.

From the moment they had jumped into the river without hesitation, Lu’s hands had remained firmly clamped onto her. Pushed by the current, Lu drifted closer. Despite the buoyancy of the water, Chu Ning could distinctly feel their chests pressing together. Their clothes were soaked through, skin meeting skin without reserve, allowing her to feel the rise and fall of Lu’s chest.

Chu Ning felt a flicker of annoyance but didn’t dare move for fear of attracting the enemy. A stray, irreverent thought flashed through her mind: she was getting the short end of the deal here, because Lu Zhidao was… a bit flat.

Aside from this “flatness,” Chu Ning’s knowledge of Lu Zhidao was limited to her role as a bodyguard on this journey. She knew nothing else; they hadn’t even spoken a word to each other. Lu had left a general impression of being reliable, but Chu Ning never expected the woman to hoist her over her shoulder and leap into a river without looking back.

Hours earlier, the convoy heading to the capital had been ambushed. People died or fled as the group was scattered. Fortunately, a few of the guards were skilled enough to hack a path through the encirclement. Lu Zhidao had grabbed Chu Ning and bolted.

But Chu Ning had no martial arts training. No matter how hard she ran, she was a heavy anchor, and the pursuers were gaining fast.

“Run forward,” Lu Zhidao said, pointing ahead as she came to a halt.

Chu Ning gave her a deep, lingering look. She assumed Lu’s decision to turn back meant certain death, so she carved Lu’s face into her memory. She did the same for the other brave warriors who had stayed behind to cover their retreat. Such life-saving grace must never be forgotten!

But Chu Ning had more important things to do. She carried ironclad evidence that the Governor of Zhijiang had conspired with merchants to seize land during a national crisis, ignoring the lives of hundreds of thousands. Her father, an Imperial Inspector, had been murdered for mastering this evidence, handing it to her on his deathbed. If they dared kill an Imperial Inspector, it showed just how lawless Zhijiang had become.

To honor her father’s dying wish, she had to deliver this evidence to the capital and bring the corrupt officials to justice.

Between the sudden family tragedy, the pursuit, and the warriors sacrificing themselves… Chu Ning’s heart was a mess of emotions. Watching Lu Zhidao’s retreating back, she felt a tragic sense of “the hero goes and never returns.” She was filled with both respect and guilt.

So, when Lu Zhidao came sprinting up from behind to catch up with her, Chu Ning was utterly stunned!

Lu Zhidao remained expressionless. Before Chu Ning could speak, Lu threw her over her shoulder and kept running. Knowing she wasn’t a villain, Chu Ning didn’t struggle, but she was confused.

“You… how are you back?” “Couldn’t win,” Lu replied curtly. “…”

Lu Zhidao carried Chu Ning like a sack of rice—devoid of emotion, showing no tender regard for a lady. Her movements were as cold as her face. However, she was much faster this way than Chu Ning running on her own.

Seeing they couldn’t shake the pursuers, Lu Zhidao didn’t slow down. Ignoring the river ahead, she leaped, plunging into the water with Chu Ning still on her shoulder. Shortly after, the voices of the pursuers echoed on the bank. The two hid underwater, not daring to breathe.

Chu Ning reached her limit, but she had resolved that she would rather die than be captured. She held her breath until the suffocating pressure made her consciousness fade. In the haze, she felt Lu Zhidao support her firmly. Then, Lu tilted her head and pressed her lips against Chu Ning’s.

Even underwater, Lu’s movements were crisp and decisive. Her lips locked onto Chu Ning’s—which were already turning purple—leaving no gap. The last shred of Chu Ning’s consciousness wanted to push her away, but her limbs wouldn’t obey. Lu held the back of her head with one hand and supported her waist firmly with the other, brook no argument.

As the cold river water seemed to swallow her mind, Chu Ning felt a surge of despair. She was devastated that she couldn’t fulfill her father’s wish, and even more hateful that she was being “defiled” by a “hypocrite” like Lu Zhidao before dying. I won’t let her off even as a ghost! Chu Ning thought fiercely.

But then, a warm breath entered her mouth… like a beam of light in the dark.

She was sharing her air. Chu Ning felt a wave of shame; she had cursed Lu in her heart and now, in her heart, she sincerely apologized.

Regularly, at short intervals, Lu Zhidao provided a steady flow of warmth, stubbornly keeping Chu Ning alive beneath the water. In her daze, Chu Ning thought she saw the other woman’s cheeks flush red, but it was hard to tell in the murky depths. With life and death on the line, there was no time to dwell on such things; even her own bashfulness was shoved aside.

…

After an eternity, Lu Zhidao pulled away. She shifted her grip to Chu Ning’s waist and hoisted her above the surface. The air was damp and cool, but Chu Ning realized for the first time how precious it was. She gasped for air, her lungs burning from the prolonged lack of oxygen.

Before she could recover, Lu Zhidao dragged her onto the shore—again, like a sack of rice. Chu Ning had no strength left. With half her body still in the water and her legs feeling like lead, she could only let herself be dragged.

Once she regained her bearings and confirmed no pursuers were nearby, she collapsed onto the mud. Lu Zhidao, seemingly tireless, grabbed one of Chu Ning’s hands and began to slowly tow her forward while hunched over. Their path left a long, wet trail in the soft earth.

“Wait… wait a moment…” Chu Ning struggled weakly, her other hand grabbing Lu’s wrist.

Lu Zhidao turned back with a blank look. Her face was pale, her features stiff. Chu Ning realized that Lu wasn’t as “fine” as she looked; she must have exhausted a massive amount of energy in the river. The complaints about Lu’s roughness died in her throat.

“You should rest for a bit,” Chu Ning advised. “Must leave,” Lu replied, her chest heaving slightly with a raspy breath.

Her wet clothes clung to her body, outlining her physique clearly. She was tall with long limbs and lean, disciplined muscle—the body of a martial artist. She wasn’t bulky, but rather lithe and symmetrical. The longsword at her waist gave her a heroic air. She stood there openly, one hand on her sword hilt, showing her entire form to Chu Ning.

And indeed… her chest was very flat.

Under the semi-transparent wet fabric, Chu Ning had basically looked her up and down. Suddenly, it hit her—she was in the same state! She looked down to see her own curves were much more prominent. She looked up and, sure enough, Lu Zhidao was staring.

Chu Ning hurriedly pulled her hand back and covered her chest. This simple action made Lu Zhidao turn awkward; she dropped Chu Ning’s hand and jerked her gaze away.

“The pursuers might return. We need to go,” Lu explained stiffly, looking at nothing in particular. “You go first, I’ll follow,” Chu Ning said, scrambling up to avoid being dragged again.

While Lu’s back was turned, Chu Ning quickly checked the small bamboo tube she carried. Luckily, it had been sealed with wax before they left; the contents were dry. She tied it back onto her waist.

Lu led the way, glancing back occasionally to adjust her pace to match Chu Ning’s.

They walked until dusk, finally putting distance between them and the river and heading into the nearby mountains. They found a small cave at the foot of a hill to shelter in for the night.

“Wait here,” Lu Zhidao said before disappearing into the cave.

The mountain air was chilly. With her clothes still wet, Chu Ning began to shiver, huddling near the entrance. After a while, Lu emerged and looked down at her, expressionless as always. “You can come in.”

Chu Ning pushed herself up against a rock. She wanted to snap at Lu for taking so long, but she was cold, hungry, and exhausted. Instead, she just glared and limped inside.

The cave had been slightly swept, and a bonfire was roaring in the center. “You were in here all this time just doing this?” Chu Ning’s tone softened. “Mm.” “I could have helped.” “Checked the terrain. Then lit the fire.”

Chu Ning, having cursed Lu again in her head, now apologized again in her head. The cave was dark, but the leaping flames brought a warmth that didn’t exist in the river. Chu Ning huddled by the fire, wishing she could wrap her arms around the heat.

Lu Zhidao sat for only a moment before standing up to leave. “Where are you going!” Chu Ning called out. Lu acted as if she were deaf and walked out without a word.

Left alone, the cave was eerily quiet, save for the crackling of the wood. Beyond the circle of light, the darkness felt like it was waiting to swallow her. Chu Ning huddled closer to the flames.

She felt a pang of anxiety. Her past was in pieces, and her future was uncertain. They had barely left Lin’an when they were ambushed. If they dared kill an Imperial Inspector, they wouldn’t hesitate to kill her. As long as she had the evidence, they would never stop. She had to keep going—not just for her father, but for the people.

She chuckled bitterly to herself. Three days ago, she was just a sheltered young lady. If she could, she would have stayed in that peaceful life forever. But she couldn’t go back; her home was gone.

Now that the convoy was scattered and Lu Zhidao had seemingly left too, Chu Ning—who had never traveled far—had no idea how to reach the capital. The road ahead was filled with “monsters” more terrifying than any myth.

She couldn’t blame Lu Zhidao for leaving. Lu was just following orders; there was no reason to drag her onto a path of certain death. Accepting this, Chu Ning resolved to rest for the night and move on alone.

She stood up, removed her dirty clothes, and washed them using the spring water seeping from the cave walls. She hung them over the fire to dry. With nothing to wear, she curled up by the fire, hugging her knees.

She checked her bamboo tube again—still dry. Then she closed her eyes and mentally recited all the accounts and data her father had made her memorize. She could forget anything else, but not this.

The recitation took a long time. When she finally opened her eyes, she saw Lu Zhidao sitting cross-legged across from her, holding a small grey rabbit, staring at her like a wooden statue.

Now, she had truly been seen by her—completely—and she had no idea how long Lu had been staring.