Chapter 167

The soldiers inside the camp learned that the wives of each household were outside, and they all rushed over.

Even if military regulations temporarily prevented them from coming out to meet, just gazing at each other across the gate and exchanging a few words was fine.

Gu Xixi glanced at the lively scene around her and said to Mu Nan Zhao:

"I'll go with you; once the military families return safely, I ought to give Ho Jiang an explanation in person."

Mu Nan Zhao leaned toward Gu Xixi and extended his hand.

Gu Xixi looked at him and didn't move.

Mu Nan Zhao suppressed his discomfort and explained calmly, "You know how big the camp is; to hurry, I can only wrong you into riding with me."

The reason was sufficient; Gu Xixi generously placed her hand in Mu Nan Zhao's palm.

As Mu Nan Zhao grasped her soft hand, his heart couldn't help but flutter.

He steadied himself and gently exerted a clever lift upward.

Gu Xixi's feet left the ground instantly, and she sat steadily in front of Mu Nan Zhao.

She wrinkled her little nose and said, "I originally didn't want to mount the horse, thinking the manure would smell strong and choke me."

"I didn't expect you, despite your busy schedule, to still find a place to bathe."

Mu Nan Zhao's temple veins twitched violently; a rare flirtatious mood arose, then vanished in an instant.

"How do you know..."

A man who is naturally fastidious has no choice but to smear himself with horse dung.

Mu Nan Zhao wishes this experience would never be known to anyone.

But now Gu Xixi is jokingly bringing it up— isn't that deliberately tugging at a tiger's whiskers!

Gu Xixi faced forward and urged, "Aren't we in a hurry? Let's go quickly, we can talk as we walk."

The two followed the troops into the camp.

Gu Xixi said, "Figuring this out isn't hard; to mask the scent, we can use locally available materials that both sides have— namely, warhorse dung."

Mu Nan Zhao heard the triumphant laughter in Xixi's tone and narrowed his eyes dangerously.

"That night you said you smelled medicine on me— was that deliberately said for Ho Jiang to hear?"

"You actually discovered I was in the inner room long ago."

General Ho has always been cautious and meticulous in warfare.

Since a loophole is known, it must certainly be resolved.

It's not surprising that Gu Xixi could anticipate this in advance.

The warhorse trotted forward steadily, but Gu Xixi keenly sensed a familiar dangerous aura, and her heart trembled.

This was an instinct honed from countless days of guessing Mu Nan Zhao's thoughts while striving to preserve her life.

Gu Xixi silently cursed her mistake; she had been too happy and forgotten that behind her lay a dangerous item that could cost her life.

So she forced a smile and said, "Indeed, I deliberately said it for the general to hear."

"However, I do smell lingering medicine on you— that is absolutely true."

Gu Xixi thought, for such a subjective matter, if she insists she can smell it, then she can, and no one's doubt is useful.

Without evidence or basis, Mu Nan Zhao surely wouldn't turn hostile, would he?

Mu Nan Zhao gazed at Gu Xixi's hair, yet a faint gloom clouded his eyes.

She fears him, and that is no illusion.

Because he has more than once noticed that when he suffers a setback, she occasionally becomes overjoyed, lively, and loves to laugh.

But whenever he asks an extra question, she seems startled, immediately composes herself, and earnestly explains to him, sometimes even with a hint of ingratiation.

Mu Nan Zhao wondered, what exactly had he done to become so terrifying in Gu Xixi's mind, to the point that she guards herself at every step?

Each harboring their own thoughts,

Outside the camp.

Aunt Lin saw Meng Chengping leading a horse, standing blankly to the side, and then realized the person he was looking at was Jing Lan.

As someone who has been through it, Aunt Lin understood perfectly what that gaze signified.

She deliberately pulled Jing Lan over and said, "Thanks to Lieutenant Meng and the others who found us last night, they kept us safe until dawn; hearing that the enemies had been cleared, they then escorted us back in formation."

Meng Chengping was ignored by Jing Lan; he could only stare longingly at her chatting and laughing with others, not daring to approach for a long time.

Hearing Aunt Lin's words, he seized the opportunity, hurriedly stepped forward a few paces, and forced himself back into Jing Lan's field of vision.

Meng Chengping gazed at Jing Lan with a smile like a little dog, almost as if a tail would sprout behind him to wag.

With Aunt Lin present, Jing Lan could no longer pretend not to see him.

She bowed and said, "Thank you, General Meng, for protecting everyone."

Seeing Jing Lan treat him so politely yet distant, Meng Chengping's formerly warm gaze instantly fell.

Aunt Lin took the chance to say, "You two talk; I'll go over there to tell my husband a few things."

Aunt Lin hurried away, and seeing that, Jing Lan also wanted to leave.

But Meng Chengping called out to her, "Jing Lan, I just saw you and haven't had enough— could you not run away?"

His voice carried a plea, sounding somewhat pitiful.

The anger Jing Lan had been holding back suddenly found an outlet.

She stopped and sneered at Meng Chengping, "Running? Who was it that kept avoiding me before?"

"Who is it, about to go on campaign, yet unwilling to spare a moment to see me? He couldn't even be bothered to leave a brief explanation; what does he think I am?"

Meng Chengping, aware of his fault, lowered his head and said, "Sorry, it's my fault that you worried."

He looked at Jing Lan's cold profile, and his inner self fell into complete panic.

"Jing Lan, actually I have a reason."

「I know I'm not worthy of you; I simply can't promise you a future, I... 」

He Jinglan's heart flared with anger; she angrily interrupted Meng Chengping: "Since you've thought this through so clearly, then let's keep the bridge and the road separate. I never want to see you again!"

Meng Chengping felt as if struck by lightning.

"Get out of the way! Don't block my path!" He Jinglan fiercely stepped on his foot and ran toward Dependents Village.

Meng Chengping's heart felt as if it had fallen into an ice hole, chillingly cold.

He couldn't feel the pain in his foot, nor did he know to go after He Jinglan.

The phrase "I never want to see you again" echoed in his mind.

Mu Nan Zhao and Gu Xixi had already entered the commander's tent, and together with Huo Jiang they had drunk two cups of plain water.

Only then did they see Meng Chengping walk in, his steps unsteady, his eyes vacant.

Huo Jiang was already seething with anger; seeing his appearance, he slammed the table and shouted, "You disregard military orders, leading troops and delaying return, you finally came back only to act like you've lost your soul! Stand up straight!!"

Meng Chengping was a qualified soldier; upon hearing the order, he immediately straightened his body and stood at attention.

Huo Jiang pointed at the leisurely Mu Nan Zhao and asked Meng Chengping, "This person says he knows nothing, follows your commands in everything, and any spoils of war are on you."

"Do you have anything to say in your defense?"

Meng Chengping's heart was as dead ashes; he said, "No."

He took a roll of cloth from his chest armor, walked up to Huo Jiang and placed it down, then retreated to his original position and stood firm.

Huo Jiang glared displeased at Meng Chengping, muttering "What a weird sight," while unrolling the cloth.

Upon looking down, his pupils suddenly constricted, and his face showed ecstatic joy.

"The Bei Li Border map!"

The ink marks were half-dry, evidently just freshly printed.