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Chapter 221: Chapter 221 Mu Yan: ’Are you concerned about me?
Qin Shuang also looked toward Zhan Xinzhang, whose expression was serious.
Zhan Xinzhang’s throat bobbed as he looked in the direction where Zhan Lan had departed and said, "She’s gone."
After traveling for a while, someone came riding toward them at a gallop.
Zhan Hui looked back and thought to himself: Why does that person’s silhouette look so much like Mu Yan?
...
Sitting inside the carriage, Zhan Lan wiped away her tears and continued toward Heifeng Pass.
She opened the bundled package and found a book inside the new clothes.
She flipped through the book briefly before quickly closing it.
There was also a letter from her grandfather inside the book, which Zhan Lan opened. It read: Lan, this is the lifelong knowledge of four old generals, and now it has all been passed on to you. Remember to destroy it after you’ve read it and, when you return, don’t forget to visit the four masters.
Zhan Lan felt a sourness around her eyes. This book was no small matter; it contained not only the martial arts techniques and secret mental methods of the four old generals’ families but also strategies and tactics for waging war and leading troops.
It was the essence of the four old generals’ lives.
Zhan Lan knew the importance of this book; nobody else could see it, so she tucked it into her bosom.
"Go!"
The carriage suddenly stopped.
Zhan Lan lifted the curtain and saw Mu Yan, draped in a black fur cloak, on horseback.
Beneath the cloak, he wore a piece of clothing that was all too familiar to her.
Mu Yan dismounted and came to face Zhan Lan, his voice carrying a hint of reproach: "Were you planning to leave without saying goodbye?"
Zhan Lan smiled awkwardly as Mu Yan looked down at the winter clothing he was wearing and said, "It fits well, and I really like it."
He hadn’t expected Zhan Lan to actually make him this winter clothing, and though it was at his request, it was a priceless gift.
The unhidden mirth in his eyes was like ripples on the water of an ancient pond, captivating at a single glance.
Zhan Lan felt that Mu Yan would look good even in a burlap sack, and she sincerely complimented, "Although the stitching is a bit clumsy, you look quite handsome in it."
Mu Yan’s smile faded, and he stood upwind to block the breeze for her, his eyes filled with reluctance as he whispered, "I’ll wait for your return."
Zhan Lan nodded slightly, "When I return, I’ll treat you to a drink."
"No return until we’re drunk?" Mu Yan’s thin lips curved up, his eyes and brows smiling.
Zhan Lan gave him a glance.
Vermilion Bird led over a horse.
Mu Yan looked at it, "Let it accompany you."
It was then that Zhan Lan noticed the sorrel Ferghana horse that Mu Yan had brought back from Western Rong.
The horse snorted, exhaling steam, and gently nuzzled Zhan Lan’s leg with its head.
Zhan Lan stroked its smooth mane, unable to hide the joy in her heart.
"Thank you, Lord Mu," Zhan Lan said, the sparkle in her eyes catching Mu Yan’s gaze.
"Call me by my name," Mu Yan said, with an air of no refusal.
Seeing that his fingers had turned red from the cold, Zhan Lan said, "You should get back now, Mu... Mu Yan."
Mu Yan’s lips curled, "Are you that eager to send me away?"
Zhan Lan smiled but did not respond.
Mu Yan looked toward Xiao Chen, who was watching him.
He walked straight to Xiao Chen, who met his gaze head-on.
But when Xiao Chen saw the winter clothing made by Zhan Lan on Mu Yan, the light in his eyes dimmed.
In a voice audible only to the two of them, Mu Yan said, "I know you like her. If anything untoward happens to Lan’er at Heifeng Pass, I, the Seal Keeper, guarantee that you will never be by her side."
Xiao Chen spoke coldly, "There’s no need for the Seal Keeper to worry about that; it’s what I should do."
Mu Yan retorted sharply, "I hope so."
Huang Gun lifted the carriage curtain and couldn’t quite make out what Mu Yan and Xiao Chen were saying. He muttered, "What does this Seal Keeper Mu have to say that he needs to say it behind my back? Seriously, I’m quite handsome too!"
Mu Yan watched Zhan Lan get on the carriage and then mount his horse. He followed beside Zhan Lan’s carriage, and she poked her head out, "You should go back, it’s so cold."
Mu Yan leaned in closer, looking into her eyes, "Concerned about me again?"
Zhan Lan rolled her eyes at him, her hair suddenly gently tousled by Mu Yan’s hand. He said, reluctantly, "Take good care."
"Mm," Zhan Lan let the curtain down and stopped looking at him.
Mu Yan gazed as Zhan Lan’s caravan went further and further away. He still followed Zhan Lan’s troops, until Vermilion Bird reminded him, "Master, His Majesty has summoned you to the palace at the hour of Chen."
"I know."
Vermilion Bird sneaked a glance at Mu Yan before leaving Miss Zhan’s master, reverting to that unapproachable demeanor.
The reins of the Ferghana horse, its white mane shimmering with silver light, were held in Mu Yan’s hand.
His gaze was clear and cold as he turned his horse towards Ding’an City.
Zhan Lan was right; apart from love, everyone has their own life missions.
In his heart, he wanted to catch up with Zhan Lan, to hold her tightly in his arms, and journey with her to Heifeng Pass, but there were places where he needed to practice restraint and self-discipline.
He too had missions he must complete.
...
After three days and nights of arduous travel, Zhan Lan entered the border region.
She kept the books from the four old generals on her, consuming the content within three days as if starved, memorizing it all in her mind, then burnt the book clean in the inn.
Finally, the group arrived at Heifeng Pass, where the winter was colder than in Ding’an City.
Zhan Lan stepped off the carriage and was immediately struck by the bone-chilling wind.
Bai Family’s army responsible for receiving the three of them was the newly-promoted Deputy General Liu Chuang, a warrior with a full face of whiskers.
Breathing out cold air in the chilling weather, he scratched his long-unwashed hair and said with a hint of mockery, "Didn’t expect the Top Scholar to be a woman, with skin so soft and tender, even more delicate than the ladies in the brothel!"
"Ha ha ha..." A burst of laughter erupted from Liu Chuang’s subordinates in the military camp.
In the military camp, there was an unwritten rule: the soldiers were virile men, used to campaigning and fighting all year round, many without the chance to marry.
Thus, in times of no conflict, visits to the brothels by the soldiers were tacitly accepted, as long as they reported to their superiors first and turned a blind eye.
However, at this moment, Liu Chuang was belittling Zhan Lan by comparing her to a prostitute.
Zhan Lan’s eyes darkened as she calmly met his gaze, seeing that this person was challenging her from the get-go; he was no easy target.
In her past life, she had arrived at Heifeng Pass at the age of sixteen—now she was here a year earlier and distinctly remembered never having met Liu Chuang before.
Either he had died in battle before she arrived, or he was specifically here to target her.
Huang Gun, being new to the military, didn’t understand the rules and couldn’t discern Liu Chuang’s rank, but knew the man’s words irked him.
So, he stood in front of Zhan Lan and said, "So what if she’s a woman, she can still be formidable, I’ve lost to her fair and square, show some respect!"
Zhan Lan pressed down on Huang Gun’s arm; he might not know military discipline, but his opponent did.
If Liu Chuang wanted to make life difficult for Huang Gun, the latter’s days ahead wouldn’t be so pleasant.
Liu Chuang, the newly-promoted Deputy General, naturally took umbrage at the sight of Zhan Lan, another Deputy General dropping in unexpectedly.
Xiao Chen had already clenched his fists, but at a glance from Zhan Lan, he temporarily suppressed the urge to kill.
"Who are you?" Liu Chuang laughed at the naive appearance of Huang Gun, the greenhorn.
"I’m Huang Gun!" Huang Gun confidently pointed his thumb at himself.
"So it’s you, a mere Fourth-rank Governor dares to be so presumptuous in front of this Deputy General! Guards, administer thirty military beatings!"
Liu Chuang intended to assert his dominance over all the newcomers.
In Nanjin’s army, ranks were structured with a First-rank Main General, Second-rank Deputy General, Third-rank Assistant General, and Fourth-rank Governor.
There was a two-rank difference between Huang Gun and Liu Chuang, but Huang Gun’s words were merely defending Zhan Lan and shouldn’t be construed as insubordination.
"Hey, are you even reasonable?" Huang Gun couldn’t contain his anger, finding it intolerable for men to bully women.
