12 Journey 2

The day to depart come. It was very early that everyone gathered. Xin Huo said that they should rest, but no one did that. Of course, he supposed it would be like that.

The one that trained the most was Lou. She gained more brushes that when she would train in a whole week.

She focused most on horse riding with weapon like sword, spear, bow and arrow. She thought that archery was good with horse riding, so she practiced mods with bow.

At first, she couldn't catch balance but after many failures she and Ash come to understand what was wrong and that was Lou's stance on the horse. Ash too understood it was his fault and helped Lou to catch balance.

They were so happy that Lou made an appearance at Xin Huo's study. Of course, he scolded her for not taking a break and training unending, but still he was happy she is not lazy. After scolding he gave her a prize. That was a horse bag, so she could have her things there.

The time they should depart arrived and the last one to make appearance was Xin Huo. Just when he come the five guards saluted and waited for his orders.

"Brother! Can we go now?" Lou wanted to depart as fast as she could. It will be her first time traveling somewhere and she was very excited. Seeing that Xin Huo giggled a little.

"If everyone has everything that necessary then we can start departing now."

Everyone nodded their heads, suggesting that they are ready. And just like that they departed.

…

Four hours passed. Lou and the other women started to be hungry, but they didn't say a word. Xin Huo saw Lou's expression and guessed she was hungry, so they took a break.

"What you can catch is ours lunch today" Xin Huo said with a mocking voice to Lou. He thought that she would get angry, but it had the opposite effect.

"Okay!" she thought he wanted to test her archery, so she was excited to show what she can do.

Lou soon saw big and fat birds. They were quite the distance away, but she still took stance to shot. Everyone that saw her didn't believe she could catch it.

After two minutes she already caught five birds. Three more minutes and there were two rabbits too. Everyone that didn't believe had a big O made of their mouth.

When everyone was still in shock, she gathered firewood and started the fire. She took Xin Huo's dragger, he didn't care much and observed what she will do. She split up meat from fur. Arranged it in two different piles.

The meat from rabbit was cut in symmetrical parts, she took out some of the herbs she had got last time and wrapped the meat in them. After that she just stuck them on stick she prepared wit Xin Huo's dragger.

The other part of the stick she stuck into the ground. Making it to be roasted without holding. When rabbits were grilling she took the opportunity to prepare birds. She did the same pattern on birds she did with rabbits.

Xin Huo was amused on the sight that everyone followed his little girl with awestruck stare. He wanted to laugh but didn't want to break Lou's concentration.

"It's ready!!" Lou shouted happily and woke up the overwhelmed guards. She gave their portions out and the first one to eat was the commander. When he started then everyone else too.

They bit the meat that was soft inside and crispy on the outside.

"It's truly delicious! How did you make it?" The twins said together and took another bite.

"It's made better than my wife does. Don't tell her that!" the old man said, and everyone started to laugh. Xin Hou too thought that it was delicious and that she will make a good wife.

After a few minutes there was nothing left. They cleaned the place and departed again.