Huo Tingshan was considerably taller than her, with a much broader frame. Held tightly in his embrace, she felt enveloped. Pressed against him, she wondered if it was her imagination, but the heartbeat within his chest seemed excessively fast. Thump, thump, thump—the rapid pulse was palpable even through their clothes.
He didn't speak, but she could sense the turbulent emotions surging within him.
Pei Ying felt inexplicably uneasy. This strange discomfort came suddenly; she hadn't felt this way even during their previous intimate moments. It lasted only a few seconds before Pei Ying's attention was completely captured by something else, impossible to ignore.
The lower part of his robe was wet. As he held her, the damp, long garment soaked through the fresh trousers she had just changed into, the cool moisture touching her skin.
Of course. Huo Tingshan had also entered the cave. He had waded through water back and forth, and later even fought the giant serpent. Not only that, early this morning he had led troops to escort the prisoners out.
The prisoners were undoubtedly disposed of, leaving none alive.
When the blade fell and heads hit the ground, surely some warm liquid had splattered out...
Did any get on him?
He was dressed in black today, impossible to tell if it had. Then assume it had.
Just thinking this, goosebumps instantly rose on the back of Pei Ying's neck. She immediately pushed him away. "Huo Tingshan, you're filthy. Let go of me!"
How dare he come close, all dirty like that. Truly, most military men were rough, uncouth brutes.
Huo Tingshan paused slightly, his tightly encircling arms finally loosening a bit. He saw the beautiful woman in his arms, her hands braced against his chest and abdomen, her face full of resistance and disgust, even the corners of her eyes flushed red with urgency.
Huo Tingshan was caught off guard, a lump forming in his throat. The swelling emotion in his heart was stuck, unable to rise or fall under her rejection. He felt he might suffocate too.
She was disgusted with him again.
Although his arms had loosened somewhat, not as forceful as before, they still encircled her. Pei Ying pushed again, trying to put at least an arm's length between them. "I just finished bathing. You're all wet and muddy. How can you come near me?"
Huo Tingshan looked down at himself. His black robe didn't show the wetness, but her apricot-colored trousers revealed a damp patch; the lower legs were already soaked.
Huo Tingshan released Pei Ying and gave a light cough. "A moment ago, I was overcome with feeling..."
He had never spoken such words before; today was the first time. His voice was somewhat low, but unfortunately, the recipient wasn't interested in hearing it.
Pei Ying pushed him outside the screen. "General, you must have many matters to attend to. You should go and deal with them first."
Huo Tingshan: "...There aren't many matters."
Pei Ying ignored him. The water with added ginger slices was particularly pungent and still very hot. The beautiful woman removed her trousers again, washed her legs once more, then directed the one outside who supposedly wasn't busy to fetch her new trousers and a wrap.
Only after emerging from behind the screen again did Pei Ying feel revived. Seeing she had finished washing, Huo Tingshan simply grabbed a couple of garments and went in next.
"The water in the tub I've used. I'll have Xin Jin change it for a clean one for you," Pei Ying said upon seeing this.
"No need. I'll use my lady's," Huo Tingshan said, undoing his belt.
She hardly ever went out and barely ever broke a sweat. Her bath just now was to ward off the chill. Besides, even if she had sweated, so what? He wouldn't be disgusted by her.
Huo Tingshan always bathed quickly and was out before long. With no battles imminent today, he dressed casually, his inner robe loosely open, the ties only casually fastened.
Pei Ying asked him, "Huo Tingshan, did Sha Ying and the others tell you about the epidemic?"
The main tent had only one set of a low table and a long couch meant for several people. Huo Tingshan didn't sit down immediately. "I heard about it earlier. Although expressing thanks between husband and wife may seem too formal, in this instance, my lady stopped the epidemic at its source, saving the lives of my 150,000 Youzhou soldiers. I cannot act as if nothing happened, as if it were merely my lady's duty."
"Having you as my wife is my great fortune." He cupped his hands and bowed deeply to Pei Ying, bending the spine that had not bowed so deeply to anyone since his parents passed away.
Huo Tingshan was truly immensely grateful.
If not for her extensive knowledge, he would have truly fallen for Li Xiaotian's scheme. The Youzhou soldiers were indeed brave and fierce, but that was on the condition that they were healthy. If the entire army fell ill, forget about capturing Jingzhou; returning to Youzhou alive would be an achievement.
Pei Ying did not move, accepting his bow, though she lowered her eyes. "It wasn't solely for your Youzhou army. If the epidemic had truly spread, Nannan and I would also have been doomed."
Huo Tingshan straightened up and sat down beside Pei Ying. "I know my lady has a kind heart."
Perhaps having grown up in a prosperous era, she possessed many qualities others lacked and that people nowadays discarded as worthless. Others might find them unsuitable, but he thought them excellent.
What if they were unsuitable for turbulent times?
Once he ended this era overrun by demons and rebels, transformed the world, a prosperous age suitable for her would surely arrive.
Pei Ying thought to herself that this man's mouth only spoke pleasantly on such occasions.
Her hand was suddenly grasped. After bathing in the ginger water, the chill was gone from her body. Pei Ying had thought herself quite warm, but now she realized there was always someone warmer. His palm was scorching hot, like a small stove.
He enveloped her hand with his, even giving her fingertips a gentle squeeze.
Pei Ying finally turned to look at him, meeting a pair of smiling, narrow black eyes. Their gazes locked, and she was the first to look away.
This man really couldn't stay serious for more than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.
"Huo Tingshan, what are your plans next?" Pei Ying asked.
From her understanding, he wasn't the type to swallow a grievance and admit defeat meekly.
Speaking of the aftermath, a cold glint spread across Huo Tingshan's eyes. "Chen Yuan mentioned earlier that two escaped. One has been confirmed dead in the snake's belly. The whereabouts of the other are still unknown for now. I have just sent troops to search for the other's trail. If that last fish is found, we'll let things take their natural course."
Pei Ying pondered the last phrase. "You mean, you want to pretend the Youzhou army has been affected, to make them lower their guard?"
Huo Tingshan curved the corner of his mouth. "Exactly. Li Xiaotian is a fool, both stupid and greedy. Moreover, he has the grudge of me killing his son. If he has a chance to deal a heavy blow to the Youzhou army head-on and take my head, he definitely won't let it pass."
Pei Ying's delicate brows furrowed in confusion. "But aren't you allies now? For him to openly attack an ally would be telling the world that he, the Governor of Sizhou, has also rebelled?"
"My lady, if he believes he has the confidence to succeed with a single strike, what does rebelling matter? This world is already in chaos. Rebelling sooner only costs some reputation and loses a few scholars who value fame and loyalty," Huo Tingshan said.
Pei Ying was about to speak when Xin Jin from outside the tent arrived with the midday meal.
Pei Ying had gone out in the morning, spent a long time in the cave, completely missing the midday meal. She had been hungry in the cave, but that pang had passed, and now she wasn't hungry.
Huo Tingshan also hadn't eaten. With the meal arrived, it was time to eat first.
There was only one small low table in the tent, so they didn't bother with separate servings. The food was placed on the small table, and the two sat facing each other.
Lunch consisted of stir-fried pork with wheat rice and pan-fried small river fish. Pei Ying's gaze swept over the plate of small fish several times; she seemed to want to eat them but hesitated to pick up her chopsticks.
Huo Tingshan noticed and picked up a piece for her. "If you want to eat it, then eat."
Pei Ying looked down at the small fish, then chose to return it, placing the fish back into his bowl. "Better not. You have it."
Huo Tingshan's long eyebrows lifted slightly.
Better not?
Her expression clearly wasn't one of not wanting to eat it.
After a moment's thought, Huo Tingshan understood. Not long ago, dead poultry and pigs had been dumped into the river, and he'd heard some hunters had even emptied night soil buckets into it.
She found it distasteful.
Huo Tingshan felt both annoyed and amused. "These pan-fried small fish take at least a day to prepare. They weren't freshly caught."
Pei Ying was enlightened. "Is that so?"
Huo Tingshan picked up another piece for her. "Would I lie to you?"
Pei Ying glanced at him, said nothing, but slowly began to eat.
Huo Tingshan paused for a moment.
What exactly was that look she just gave him?
Sizhou Military Camp.
"Lord Li, scouts report that the forces from Yongzhou and Yuzhou have joined up first," Lieutenant Liu reported.
Li Xiaotian rotated the thumb ring on his finger. "How many troops has each state contributed?"
Lieutenant Liu: "It's said Yongzhou sent seventy thousand, Yuzhou eighty thousand. The exact number of cavalry is unknown for now."
Stirrups and high-cantle saddles had been known for over a year. Every province had exhausted their means to equip their armies with full sets of gear, focusing on developing cavalry.
But soldiers were easy to find; good horses were hard to come by.
The northern lands were rich in horses. Places like Youzhou, which bordered the northern kingdoms and were constantly scorned as barren wastelands in the past, had now become coveted treasures. The problem was, not only Youzhou, but Bing and Ji provinces were also entirely under Huo Tingshan's control now. It was no exaggeration to say that all the finest horse-breeding lands in the realm were monopolized by him alone.
It was truly... enough to make one deeply envious.
However...
Li Xiaotian seemed to think of something, revealing a pleased smile. After a moment, he said, "The seventy thousand Yongzhou sent this time must be a small but significant portion of Ji Xianbai's family fortune. Yuzhou, being the center of the realm, only sending eighty thousand troops to chastise Jing... seems rather miserly."
Deputy Commander Zhao chimed in, "Yuzhou probably wishes to conserve its strength."
"That old fox Lei Chengshuang is indeed slippery." Li Xiaotian chuckled lightly. "Never mind, eighty thousand it is. Even if all eighty thousand were wiped out, it wouldn't be a devastating blow to him, but it would certainly have a considerable impact."
"Who leads the Yongzhou forces this time?" Li Xiaotian asked.
Lieutenant Liu: "The General Who Conquers the South, Zhu Yanwu."
Li Xiaotian snorted. "I've never heard of this man. Judging by this title, it was likely a recent conferment. Probably a new rising star from Ji's faction."
His subordinates murmured in agreement.
After asking about the two states, Li Xiaotian inquired about the team he had sent out earlier. "Has Captain Mao's team returned yet?"
It was now the beginning of the You hour (5-7 PM). They had been out for a full day; by rights, that team should have returned.
Lieutenant Liu shook his head: "Not yet..."
"Report!" A guard rushed in at that moment. "Lord Li, scouts have just reported that Youzhou troops on patrol discovered two small Jingzhou squads."
"Discovered by Youzhou?" Li Xiaotian's temple throbbed, but then he immediately shook his head. "No, they likely didn't discover anything..."
That method was rather profound and obscure. A northern barbarian like Huo Tingshan certainly wouldn't understand it.
Li Xiaotian paced back and forth in the tent.
Lieutenant Liu, seeing his lord seemed uneasy, said, "Lord Li, the men who went out with Captain Mao are all elite troops, tight-lipped. Even if captured, they definitely wouldn't reveal any secrets."
Deputy Commander Zhao echoed, "Absolutely. Moreover, since Youzhou believes they are Jingzhou troops, they probably won't think beyond their scout identity. Once captured, they might not even interrogate them, just execute them directly."
In situations where two armies are neighbors, scouts are mainly used to probe the other side's movements and don't hold many secrets.
Therefore, even if interrogated, little is usually gained.
"Let's hope so." Li Xiaotian's brow relaxed. "The Yizhou forces haven't arrived yet, but we can't wait any longer. Send a message to Governor Lei of Yuzhou and General Zhu. Arrange a time for me to meet each of them separately."
Night shrouded the land. Torches were lit one after another in the mountain forest, and inside the limestone cave, it was as bright as day.
The search continued. The sounds of conversation and rustling leaves intertwined, occasionally punctuated by barks.
Inside the cave, a strong, imposing black-furred hunting hound sniffed the ground, wagging its tail as it slowly moved forward.
An hour ago, the two captives had been brought to the edge of the cave. Over a dozen hunting dogs had taken turns sniffing them before fanning out.
"Dark Cloud, put some effort into it. If you find someone, you'll get a big piece of meat when we get back." Sha Ying rubbed his arms. He had been in the cave for hours, and the damn place was oddly cold.
"Woof, woof." Dark Cloud barked twice. Upon reaching the water channel's edge, it suddenly began barking furiously again.
Sha Ying stopped rubbing his arms. He stared intently at the water surface. The channel looked the same as before, with water flowing gently, showing nothing unusual.
"Go down and search again." Sha Ying didn't dare be careless.
"Splash, splash." The Black Armored Cavalry soldiers entered the water one after another.
Sha Ying thought this would be another fruitless effort, but to his surprise, unusual ripples immediately stirred on the water's surface, suggesting someone was surfacing quickly.
"Splash—" A Black Armored Cavalry soldier emerged from the water. "Platoon Leader Sha, there's a hidden passage in a corner underwater!"
"A hidden passage?" Sha Ying was shocked, then hurriedly called over a few more excellent swimmers. "There's a hidden passage below. You three, go down and investigate."
The three men accepted the order.
Sha Ying waited anxiously on the bank.
The north wasn't like the south, with its many rivers and lakes. The army was full of landlubbers; truly skilled swimmers were few and far between.
Time passed slowly.
"Why aren't they coming up yet? Could something have happened?" A deep furrow formed between Sha Ying's brows.
They had been down for a long time, far exceeding the time one could hold their breath. Under normal circumstances, they'd likely have drowned. But it couldn't be, could it? If they couldn't find anyone underwater, they should just come up. Why risk their own lives?
A long time later, with a "splash," the original Black Armored Cavalry soldier surfaced.
The soldier didn't even wipe his face, exclaiming joyfully, "Platoon Leader Sha, we found him!"
Two more men surfaced beside him. Together, they were dragging a corpse—the Sizhou soldier who had escaped earlier.
"Was there something inside the hidden passage?" Sha Ying asked in astonishment.
The Black Armored Cavalry soldier nodded. "Under the water channel, there's a short hidden passage. Beyond it is another small space similar to this one, only about the size of two rooms. That man was hiding there just now. If we hadn't entered through the hidden passage to search, we truly wouldn't have found him."
Sha Ying exclaimed in wonder upon hearing this, but upon later reflection, it seemed perfectly reasonable.
This large cave was complex and labyrinthine, with stone pillars forming natural walls everywhere. Being naturally formed, who could know if the spaces between walls were hollow or not?
"Well done! Finally found him. Withdraw the troops!" Sha Ying let out a sigh of relief.
With the man found, he could finally deliver a report.
On the way back, he saw Guo Dajiang and a guard behind him each carrying a hemp sack. The surfaces of the sacks bulged with angular shapes, looking as if they were filled with stones.
Shaying asked curiously, "Are you bringing some stones back? Are these the stone pillars the mistress wanted during the day? But weren't some already transported back to the military camp? Could it be there weren't enough?"
Guo Dajiang laughed, "Not at all. These here are all crystal. The General wants them."
Shaying was taken aback, "The General?"
"Indeed," Guo Dajiang nodded. "Earlier, when I returned to the camp to bring the captives over for Dark Cloud and the others to identify, I happened to run into the General conducting an interrogation. I took the opportunity to report on recent developments. When the General learned there was crystal inside the cave, he ordered me to find some beautiful pieces to bring back. He also instructed that this matter not be told to the mistress. I reckon he probably wants to make jewelry for her. After all, crystal is more valuable than gold. I've heard many noblewomen in Chang'an prize crystal above all else. This is confidential, so be sure not to let anything slip in front of the mistress."
Shaying's expression turned peculiar.
Come to think of it, he still had several sacks of crystal hidden away himself, the ones the mistress had told him to keep secret.
