Chapter 153 (1/2)

Chapter 153: Urgency

How did those Eastern Wu men avoid Qi Chen's detection?

Jun Huang twisted and turned on the ground, unable to fall asleep. In the end she gave up on sleeping. She sat up and looked at the sky with unfocused eyes. Her head was filled with unanswered questions.

She was surrounded by soldiers, who fell asleep as soon as they lay down. Their snores were as loud as thunder strikes. Jun Huang was more awake than ever. With a sigh, she got to her feet and decided to go for a walk.

She had tried her best to make as little sound as possible, but Nan Xun still heard her. He opened his eyes and watched Jun Huang go. He a.s.sumed that Jun Huang had things to take care of, so he didn't follow her.

After a while, though, Jun Huang still hadn't returned. A trace of worry snuck into his heart. He got up to find Jun Huang and ran into her not far from the camp.

”Is something wrong?” Jun Huang asked.

Nan Xun smiled awkwardly and changed the subject. He didn't say that he was worried. As they made their way back, Nan Xun looked at Jun Huang's tired face and felt his heart ache. ”Are you unable to fall asleep because the others are too loud?”

Jun Huang shook her head. ”That's not it. I was simply having troubles sleeping. After going on a walk, I'm feeling drowsy. Let's return. I'm sure I'll fall asleep in no time.”

She picked up her pace. Nan Xun didn't argue.

It turned out that Jun Huang had underestimated the soldiers' snores. She was always a light sleeper. With the thunderous noise a.s.saulting her senses, she couldn't fall asleep. She didn't want Nan Xun to worry about her, however, so she forced herself to shut her eyes and got some rest.

Jun Huang had gotten very little sleep when the day broke. Nan Xun didn't want to disturb her. He had noticed Jun Huang's situation last night. He ordered the others to leave her alone and put off their departure.

The soldiers didn't think too much of it. Nan Xun's second in command, on the other hand, wondered if this was a good thing. He had run into Nan Xun and Jun Huang ”doing it.” He couldn't stop himself from dwelling on their relations.h.i.+p when Nan Xun had been treating Jun Huang with such care.

He was but an official, though, and he owed a debt to Nan Xun. He wasn't going to say anything to Nan Xun, and could only sighed to himself in private.

It wasn't that he thought Feng Baiyu wasn't good enough. Quite the contrary, Feng Baiyu was too good a man; that was why Nan Xun fell for him. Sometimes, he hoped that Feng Baiyu had been a woman. If so, he wouldn't have a word of complain. In fact, he would be offering his blessings to the two of them.

When Jun Huang woke up, the sun was at the top of the sky. Nan Xun had set up a simple roof over her head to provide some shade.

Jun Huang blinked blearily. The position of the sun told her that it was noon already. She felt bad for causing the delay, but Nan Xun didn't seem to care.

Nan Xun had noticed Jun Huang's loss of weight. Her face had lost its usual color. She looked unhealthy. It worried Nan Xun.

He rode to Jun Huang side. With a frown, he said, ”If you can't keep going, I'll have someone prepare a coach. You don't have to push yourself.”

Jun Huang glanced at him and shook her head. ”You have asked the soldiers to march slower. That I can tell. I'll be able to keep on. If I get on a coach, there's no telling when we will reach Yunzhou. Don't forget that you have your order. You aren't here to go on a field trip. Neither am I. You know better than others that I'll like to reach Yun Town as soon as I can.”

Nan Xun fell silent. His eyes were fixed on Jun Huang. He was worried that something would happen to her.

Nan Xun's second in command stepped in. He could see Jun Huang wasting away as well, and he had to do something. It might be that Jun Huang was born with an endearing quality. Or perhaps it was because he had seen how much Nan Xun cared about Jun Huang – He knew that Nan Xun would be unhappy if Jun Huang was unwell.

”There's a little town ahead of us, general. We can go get some supply.” The officer couldn't say openly that this was for Jun Huang. He therefore spoke in a roundabout way.

Nan Xun glanced at the officer, his eyes lighting up. He nodded. His mood had taken an upturn.

The officer saw the change in Nan Xun's expression. His heart felt lighter as well.

They soon reached the town. Nan Xun ordered the others to get the supply.