Vol 10 Chapter 14 (2/2)

“Un, I got it.” Yi De replied softly with a tinge of sadness. I do not know why she is sad but it seems like she has been brooding a lot of late. Is she still thinking about our exchange before? But since she has not come to speak to me, that means that she is not yet ready to tell me what is up with her.

“Is this the same forest as the last time?”

“Un un, it should be here.”

Just then, Zi Long and Chen Dao exchanged some words and I looked about to see that there was not a single leaf on the trees. I looked down at the ground and saw that most the leaves had rotted. It was clear from Zi Long and Chen Dao’s exchange that the forest was different during the time of the second battle yet it had changed so drastically over the course of mere weeks. Winter always seems to come quicker than expected but this time, it feels like winter has already pa.s.sed us by.

“Zi Long, is spring coming soon?”

“Un… It should still be some ways away.” Zi Long replied and thought about it, “As a northerner, I must say that I am not too sensitive to seasonal changes.”

“If we were further south, winter would be 2/3 over. It gets colder the further north we get and it’s difficult to get a sense of winter setting in where we are now.” Yuan Zhi replied calmly as she raised a hand to feel the air, “The air is rather dry now so winter will only end in about 30-40 days.”

“I didn’t think that Yuan Zhi knew about such things as well.” I said, feeling impressed at her knowledge and realised as well that it was very likely Yuan Zhi was knowledgeable about a lot more things than we knew.

“But this really is the forest where the second battle took place. Though Li Dian and Cao Ren did clean it up, there are still visible bloodstains in the ground.”

I looked down and saw that it was indeed the case. There were clear signs of black, dried up blood on the dirt road when I looked down.

“I am very sorry about that.”

“Ah, Lord Xu Shu, don’t mind it, I had no intention of blaming you.” Zi Long hurriedly apologised when Yuan Zhi blamed herself.

“No, I think I should be blamed for it.” Yuan Zhi said with a pensive look, “After that battle, I realised that battles were by no means easy at all and often times, a single misjudgement can cause thousands and even tens of thousands of men to lose their lives. As the decision makers, we must always remember to be prudent and careful. Especially me.”

That is something I can really get behind. I never felt it when I was playing games but after being in the shoes of a feudal lord, I have found that it really is difficult to put your foot down and make a decision something.

“Lord Xu Shu.” Zi Long said as she saluted her.

“Un?” Yuan Zhi and I looked over at her and saw that Zi Long was smiling.

“Lord Xu Shu, I think I’m beginning to like you more and more.”

“Eh?! I-I-I-I-I-I di-didn’t s-s-say anything…” Yuan Zhi exclaimed and stammered.

“No, those were very enlightening words indeed.” Chen Dao added with a delightful smile plastered on her face.

“Un, I am in agreement as well.” Yi De added in as she nodded.

“Wu…” Yuan Zhi got even shyer when she got praised by the other 2 and pulled down her bandana and covered her eyes entirely.

“Lord Xu Shu, what’s up with you~” Zi Long taunted with a wry smile.

“Zi Long.” I called out to her and gestured for her to stop. Zi Long understood and merely smiled and did not continue. I then turned to Yuan Zhi, “Yuan Zhi, don’t be shy. You know what you need to say here right?”

Yuan Zhi remained silent for a long while before she eventually spat out, “… Thanks everyone.”

“Un, no need for thanks~” Zi Long replied in a rather girly tone which sent chills down my spine.

But really, the distance between Yuan Zhi and the rest of us has greatly shrunk. I do not know about the specifics but it is undoubtedly related to our conversation in the market. Or at least, that’s what I would like to think.

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