Chapter 95 - Identity Revealed (2)

"Yes, father." Xiong Jingfei forced her body to face Feng Huan. In a soft and tender voice that he never once heard her used before. She said, "I must thank you once again for saving my life. Thank you for also traveling with us when we were only dragging you down. I can't thank you enough..." 

Silence fell into the tent when Feng Huan did not acknowledge her thanks or said anything. Inside her head, she was begging Feng Huan to say something for now. Anything!

She gulped and filled up the silent treatment, "I don't know what I can do to repay you?" 

A smile crept across Feng Huan's lips. In an ice-cold voice, "No, it was an honor to have saved you. Miss. Xiong. Jingfei."

That smile of his... He is totally livid with her! Xiong Jingfei shivered but didn't let her calm facade break apart. Especially not in front of her father and Commander Feng. 

Instead, she thickened her face and smiled, "Not at all! To have someone 'great' like you to save us. I cannot express my gratitude enough. Please allow me to find a way to repay you for saving our lives." 

If I can preserve my life long enough before you take a swing at my head! Xiong Jingfei cried on the inside. 

"I will be waiting for that day," Feng Huan replied, his smile didn't drop instead it widened. 

Feng Huan's firm intense eye contact caused Xiong Jingfei to divert her eyes. She felt like her head already went flying. Why was there another version of Yang Zheyan here? Is this normal when men get angry? They tend to smile wider and brighter than the sun...

Also, this pleasantry exchange between them doesn't appear to have an ending. Xiong Jingfei gulped. Right now, their "thank you" and "no, thank you" were like two strangers. Although that should have been the case from the very beginning. 

"Mn, the two of you must be tired. You already finished your greeting, so go back and rest." Xiong Guozhi ordered, waving his hands to send them off. Then warned them, "Rest well, there is more to come in the coming days."

"Yes," Xiong Jingfei and Feng Huan answered in unison. 

Both of them walked shoulders to shoulders as they silently exited. In reality, Xiong Jingfei was actually trying to walk faster than Feng Huan. Except, for some odd reason, his every step was equalling up to hers. She slowed her steps, and his footsteps slowed down too. She sped up, and so did he. 

When they were far enough out of sight, Feng Huan grabbed her by the arm and pulled them behind one of the tents. 

"H-hey, what do you think you are doing?" Xiong Jingfei hissed, pulling her arms out of his grip. He grabbed on tighter and covered her mouth. 

"Did you see the commander's daughter?"

"I saw only a glimpse... I want to see the hidden face behind that veil." 

"Hah, didn't you hear about the rumor back at the Capital?" 

"Oh! That her face is disfigured, and she has fangs sticking out of her mouth!"

"Shh!" The other soldier covered his mouth. "Why are you so loud? What if someone heard you? We can be punished for slandering the commander's daughter."

The one with the loud voice slapped his mouth a couple of times, " I forgot... But it doesn't look like anyone is around." 

Their voice was starting to fade away, but the other soldier replied, "Yeah, they're too busy with storing the items away." 

Xiong Jingfei slapped Feng Huan's hand away and gasped for oxygen. He seriously didn't leave any breathing room between her nose and his hands.

After filling her body up with oxygen, she glared at him, "Are you trying to kill me? If so, I prefer to go within one swing of your sword! That'll hurt way less."

Why is he not saying anything? Hearing nothing coming from Feng Huan or having a sword swing at her neck. She looked up to see his "woman" frozen face and body again. It was rather amusing at this point how he freezes up when touching the opposite gender. 

She waved her hand, but he stood staring at her blankly. Looking down at the ground, she found a pile of thin wooden sticks. She smirked mischievously, might as well have fun with him while he was in this state. If he was going to end her, might as well pile on the debt so it won't be a death in vain. 

Picking up one of the sticks, she lightly poked his shoulder, "Are you okay? Come out from your state of shock already."

She laughed a little on the inside. How many people will dare say they poked General Feng with a stick to make fun of him? None! They were terrified of him. So not even a stick, they probably won't even touch him in the slightest. 

"You dare laugh at me?" Feng Huan seized and broke her stick with one small clenched. 

Xiong Jingfei dropped her end of the stick. He heard me laughing? I guess I wasn't laughing inside... She took a look at how clean the twig snapped. Phew, glad that I decided to not poke him with my fingers!

"You lied to me!" Feng Huan growled, closing in on the space between them. 

Xiong Jingfei backed up to only meet the back of the clothed tent. Trapping her with nowhere to escape, "I-I can explain..."

She stopped talking immediately. Something felt off... She touched her face with horrors lit up in her eyes.

"Veil! Where is my veil?" Xiong Jingfei covered the bottom half of her face with her hands. No wonder her face was feeling the breeze rather well!

"This?" Feng Huan held up the white silk veil. It slipped off when she pushed his hands away. 

She glared at him, "Give it back!"

Feng Huan tilted his head. This scene was somewhat familiar to what happened down at the stream. He crossed his arms with the veil tucked tightly between his arms and hands. 

"Show me what you can do when your hands aren't even free." Feng Huan lifted his chin and gazed down at her. Yes, those are the eyes he wanted to see during his training with her. Ready to kill.

Xiong Jingfei's brow creased, "I'm giving you another chance to return my veil before anyone sees us." 

Feng Huan stood tall and proud. He wasn't afraid of what a small girl like her would do to him. 

"Fine, you asked for it," Xiong Jingfei mumbled behind her hands.

Behind her hands, he can tell a smile formed, and her eyes soften. Gracefully, she took a courtesy bowed without removing her hands. Tossing him into a state of confusion on what she is planning to do next. 

"General Feng, I thought of a way to repay you for saving our lives during that nightmare. If not for you..." Xiong Jingfei's throat closed up, and her eyes became watery. "I..."

Feng Huan's fingers on the veil loosened, "W-why are you suddenly crying?" 

Xiong Jingfei made a soft sigh, "General Feng, I hope with this repayment you will remember me for life."

After her eloquent words with hidden intentions were said. Her speedy legs sent Feng Huan's legs into a kneel. She grabbed the silk cloth and wrapped it around her face quickly. 

"Ah, General Feng! This is inappropriate! How can you kneel to me?" Xiong Jingfei shrieked, pretending to help him stand up. Instead, she pushed his shoulders down and let him give her a full bow. That playful light in her eyes shined brightly. 

"You-!" Feng Huan scowled, swiftly standing up. 

Except, Xiong Jingfei already took off running. She only stopped when she was near everyone else. She turned around and mouthed, 'You're welcome, Feng Huan.'

Feng Huan official gave his approval that she was quick. He patted off the dirt from his knees and hands, "Now it's starting to make sense."  

He was wondering why all three of them on the journey had to wear a veil. Only one of them needed to do it, and that should be Xiong Jingfei. Servants were not required to hide their faces from others. 

Feng Huan looked past it and didn't dig deeper. To him, it may be a cover-up in case someone else attacks them. Then the attackers will have to take a guess between the three of them. Even after he joined them with his small army, they still kept their face covered. 

He just never would have thought Xiong Jingfei did it to hide her own identity from him. He doesn't know if he should be happy or frustrated to find out the truth. But she was nothing like the rumors! Mischievous, naughty, and good at playing tricks on him! 

Feng Huan walked it off and returned to his assigned tent. 

Inside the tent that they were leaning against on. There sat a person tasting their freshly brewed tea. For a second during their fight outside, he felt that he was involved in their problem too. Based on their very engaging conversation. 

He blew against the steaming herbal tea, "I wonder which side of you will be shown to me? The real you or the fake you, Xiong Jingfei."