Chapter 119 - 117. Leaving to Da Qi III

Third person POV

After talking for a while, the three little Xu brothers left and went back to Xu residence. Hong er came out of her tent and saw the soldiers were cooking in the fire camp. There was a pot of soup and a roasted chicken on top of the fire, they didn't expect that Hong er would came out so early. They thought that Hong er was tired and hungry from the ride and would get angry at them for not serving the food to her tent.

Hong er walked towards the fire and took a sniff at the chicken then she took a few bottle of seasoning and sprinkled the seasoning on top of the chicken. After that, she spooned some of the soup and tested it, the soldiers that were in charge of cooking looked fixedly at Hong er. They flinched when Hong er furrowed her brows, actually they were very confident in their cooking as their fellow soldiers always complimented their cooking. But they forgot that the person that they cook for was a noble, a Young Miss on top of that. They never cooked extravagant nor luxurious foods since they always cook the easiest and simplest food like soup and roasted chicken or preys they caught.

They had expected to get scolded by Hong er but rather than that, she went to a nearby tree and looked around the trees. Her face brightened when she finally found the thing that she was looking for. She plucked the little fruits and then used her combined magic on the fruits. The fruits changed into a little blackish thing similar to black pepper after a few minutes.

Hong er walked back to the fire camp and threw the black thing into the soup, she stir the soup and tested it again. A smile appeared on her face as she closed the lid. The soldiers nervously asked Hong er.

Soldier: " M-Miss Xu, is it not to your taste?"

Hong er looked at them and finally realized what she had done, she thought that they were her fellow elite forces that's why she just do everything without asking.

Hong er: " Oh my! I'm sorry that I just added something without asking."

Hong er said apologetically. The soldiers didn't expect a high ranked noble lady to apologize to them, they were fl.u.s.tered when Hong er looked at them directly in the eyes.

Soldiers: " A-ah no no! Miss Xu doesn't need to apologize to this lowly servant. It is just that this lowly servant is afraid that the food isn't to Miss Xu's taste."

Hong er: " Oh~ It is delicious but the night in the middle of the forest can be quite cold even if it is summer. Furthermore, you guys have to patrol around the camp . Therefore, I picked some pepper fruit and fasten its drying process with combined magic. The spiciness of the pepper could warm your body."

The soldiers were very touched with Hong er's thoughtfulness and they were curious of this combined magic that Hong er mentioned before.

Hong er: " Basically, you use two or more element magics at the same time but in more complicated way. I used fire, air, and water magic to dry this black pepper, firstly boil it until it will turnedmm black or dark brown and then use hot air and fire to dry the pepper. Usually it still need at least 30 minutes to get it done perfectly but I put more Qi in it to quicken the process."

Soldiers: " Hoo~"

The soldiers listened to Hong er's explanation with serious face.

Hong er: " Even though combined magic sounds great and convenient, it consumes your Qi quicker than usual so it is not suited for battle or fight."

Hong er warned them the flaws of combined magic. Lu Ping peeked through the curtain of his window, he had heard everything regarding Hong er from Qi zongguan.

Lu Ping: ' Qi zongguan said that she is a good cook, humble even to servants, and likes to help. Hhmm, isn't she too perfect that it's weird?'

Lu Ping let down the curtain and continued to write his report. He purposely told the soldiers to cook the food instead of professional chef as he wanted to see the truth of Qi zongguan's information with his own eyes. As one of the aide of Weisheng, he has to choose the best candidate to rule the country together by Weisheng's side. He didn't want an empress that only knew how to waste the country's treasury for their own satisfaction. He, Lu Ping, was well known of his intelligent and sharp-witted mind. He was acknowledged by the Great Teacher Lan Qingshan and always topped in any exam, he wouldn't let down Weisheng and his family.

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After having dinner together with the soldiers, Hong er went back to her tent to take a rest. But she only saw Huayun guarding the tent alone, Hong er walked up to Huayun and asked her.

Hong er: " Where is Meiyun?"

Huayun: " She said that she has a stomachache but she had been gone for too long."

Hong er: " Should we go look for her?"

Huayun: " Young Miss stay here with the soldiers, I will go look for-"

Meiyun: " Hey hey hey~ I'm back~"

Hong er and Huayun turned their heads around and saw Meiyun rubbing her belly while groaning painfully. Hong er walked up to Meiyun and grabbed her wrist to check her pulse. Hong er frowned deeply and growled.

Hong er: " Meiyun…"

Meiyun: " Yes?"

Meiyun asked innocently.

Hong er: " If you are sick then take a rest."

Hong er didn't know what kind of sickness Meiyun got but based on her unstable pulse, Hong er knew that she wasn't in a good shape.

Meiyun: " I'm fine~ I'm fine~ Just have a bad stomach day, Young Miss. Ahahaha~"

Hong er: " You didn't lie to me right?"

Meiyun: " Aiya~ No la~"

Hong er: " But, still take some rest."

Meiyun: "Yes, Young Miss~"

Hong er glanced at the smiling Meiyun and walked into her tent. Huayun slowly walked towards Meiyun and worriedly asked.

Huayun: " Are you really okay?"

Meiyun: " What is with you? It is rare that you are worried about me."

Huayun: " Of course I will be worried if your face's as pale as paper for a few days already! And I'm your sister!"

Meiyun: " Ahahahaha~ I'm really fine. I'm stronger than you in the first place so worry about yourself."

Huayun: " No need to tell me that you are stronger, I know that well and I take care of myself reallyyyyy good not like you."

Meiyun only laughed at Huayun's statement, even though Huayun's words seemed ignorant but deep down in her heart, she was really worried about Meiyun.

Meiyun: " Let's go back."

Huayun: " En."

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Morning*

The entourage continued their journey and it was estimated that they would pass the Da Qi's border in the afternoon. Once they entered Da Qi's territory, their safety would be more guaranteed. The ride was peaceful until one of the commander of the soldiers walked up to Meiyun.

Commander: " Can I talk to Miss Xu?"

Meiyun: " For what purpose? Young Miss could hear our conversation from out here so just talk."

Commander: " Okay. Our shadow guards had noticed a suspicious group of people from 2 directions approaching our way."

Meiyun: " How many is it? How far are they from us?"

Commander: " More or less, 25 people are coming from the west and 30 from the east. The estimated time they would catch up to us is about 30 minutes as they're quite high skilled in martial arts and magic. And it seems like they were not from the same side."

Meiyun: " How do you know?"

Commander: " The shadow guards managed to kill some of them and noticed the differences in their clothes and badges."

Meiyun: " Okay. Young Miss, let me investigate this matter."

Huayun and Meiyun cupped their fist to the woman inside the carriage. Hong er lifted up the curtain and looked at Meiyun with worried eyes

Hong er: " Bring some soldiers with you and be careful."

Meiyun: " Yes, Young Miss. Huayun, I leave Young Miss' safety in your care."

Meiyun patted Huayun before she disappeared with the commander.

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Commander: " I will go to the east and you to the west. Bring them with you, even though they are not as strong as you, they will be quite helpful."

10 tall young men stepped forward and saluted Meiyun with solemn face. Meiyun could recognize two of them as they fought with her before.

Meiyun: " Thank you, I really appreciate their help. I will be counting on you guys."

Soldiers: " Yes!"

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Hong er: " Huayun."

Huayun: " Yes, Young Miss?"

Hong er: " Is your sister really okay?"

Huayun's body twitched when she heard Hong er's question. She gripped her hand until her knuckles turned white.

Huayun: " She definitely will be fine, she is a very strong fighter."

Huayun didn't want to lose another person that she loves, she had lost her family and her lover, she didn't want to lose her sister that had protected her and gave her love.

Huayun: ' Meiyun…'