Wait for Him to Return (Part Two)
At the decisive battle at Zhu Guan was imminent. The Gu family’s army was calmly waiting for the enemy to arrive.
Gu JiuGe and Gu HanMo, who were stationed in Weizhou and Changchuan, were also waiting. They were waiting for their moment to fight to the death.
They had to lead the defenses of their respective cities against the enemy. The suffering that they had to endure on their own during the past few days was even harder to bear than waiting for a blade that was already resting on their necks.
Yet they could not allow themselves to show it in front of their subordinates. They needed to maintain a calm disposition in front of the troops to steady their hearts and pretend that they had some way of keeping Western Kun’s army outside their gates.
Even if they could not win, they would at least be able to stall until reinforcements arrived.
Normally, Gu HanMo would train with his sword every day. After arriving in Changchuan, he was no longer in the mood to train. He spent his days engaged in a staring contest with the troop deployment map in the main tent.
The problem was that the map did not have eyes, while he did, and his eyes quickly turned bloodshot.
In just a few short days, he reflected on all of the military tactics that Gu HuaiJiang and Gu ShuBai had taught him. He considered which battle formations would be best suited for the upcoming battle.
Kun WuShang did not keep them waiting too long, and the day of the battle finally came.
Gu ShuBai got up early in the morning and took a deep breath of the fresh air outside his tent. The autumn wind had a desolate and sandy smell that was unlike the air in the capital.
The autumn wind in the capital was milder and more humid, and it carried the faint fragrance of osmanthus flowers.
This place just smelled dry and sandy. The fallen leaves were picked up by the wind and would occasionally hit people in the face, causing a bit of stinging pain.
He had a feeling that Kun WuShang would commence his attack today.
Yu Fu hugged her treasured chest. The chest that she was holding was a little large, and it blocked her vision of her feet. she tripped over a small stone and nearly fell over.
Fortunately, someone grabbed her arm, and that person was Gu ShuBai.
“Where has Yao Lan gone? Why is she not carrying the chest for you? I haven’t seen her at your side over the past few days. What have you told her to do?”
Yu Fu stood up straight and steadied herself, “She hasn’t gone to do much. I told her to rest inside the tent. On the horse ride over here, her body was covered in bruises. To this date, Yao Lan had not suffered so greatly. Naturally, she should be allowed to get some rest. It’s fine if she is not here with us. I can carry this chest myself.”
Gu ShuBai smiled upon hearing this, “She had not suffered so greatly up to this moment. Could it be that you have?”
Yu Fu was clearly the young miss, while Yao Lan was the maidservant, thus Yu Fu would be infinitely nobler; however, she took care of things herself to allow Yao Lan to rest.
Yu Fu tilted her head and thought for a bit, “It can’t be considered suffering, but when second brother and I went to Changzhou last winter, we also rode day and night without resting through the snow. I would have more experience than her, right?”
Saying this, she patted her treasured chest, “Eldest brother, I happened to have something to discuss with you. Let’s go and discuss it inside the tent!”
The sentry stationed outside the tent brought them breakfast. It was plain congee with some side dishes. Fortunately, it had the shredded meat that Yu Fu loved.
The two ate breakfast while chatting. Yu Fu held her spoon in one hand and pulled out a green porcelain bottle from her treasured chest, “I went through my medicine kit last night and thought about what might be of use and found this.”
Gu ShuBai raised an eyebrow. He felt that there was something strange about the green patches on this bottle. It looked like it was a poison that was meant to cause harm to others.
Could it be that Yu Fu was thinking of copying Kun WuShang and using the poison on the land?
He put down his spoon and wiped the corner of his mouth, “What is the drug?”
“It’s a medicine that master created to treat metal-inflicted wounds. It’s very effective on external injuries. If you guys get injured during battle and can’t stop the bleeding, this can quickly stop the bleeding. When I first left Immortals Valley, master gave it to me. I left it inside the chest and nearly forgot about it.”
Yu Fu had never suffered any external injuries, nor had she ever had a wound that did not stop bleeding. At worst, she had a nosebleed that would not stop when she was younger.
This unique medicine was one that she never had a chance to use.
It turned out that it was a medicine for metal-inflicted wounds…
Gu ShuBai let out a sigh of relief, received the porcelain bottle, then brought it up to his nose to sniff it, “I thought it was some sort of poison. I recall the more poisonous items in your chest all had strange bottles.”
“Those are all poisons that I prepared. It makes it a bit easier to remember. This is a medicine that master gave me, and all of the bottles that master uses are very strange. He really likes buildings with strange architecture and medicine bottles with strange shapes.”
Yu FU patiently explained then earnestly said: “When it comes to poisons that can be used on the battlefield, I don’t have any fewer compared to Kun WuShang, but I despise such things. Using poison to poison a large area is indeed powerful, but the damage to the land is too great. If one is not careful, it will cause harm to the innocent. Even if the ones harmed are just Western Kun’s citizens, they’re still innocents.”
Gu ShuBai found her point of view to be quite novel and patted her on the head, “I also feel this way. Who knew that the two of us would happen to have the same opinion. The battlefield is a place where soldiers belong. Regardless of which country’s citizens we are speaking of, they should not be implicated. You are very correct. If father heard what you said, he would definitely be very proud of you.”
Yu Fu obediently looked up at him, resembling a well-behaved cat laying in a person’s lap.
She said: “Head general feels this way, and master also feels this way. He has never approved of us spreading that sort of poison on the battlefield. It is very potent, and it’s very easy for innocent people to get injured. Master said that that poison was meant to be used to escape from an enemy’s trap, but Kun WuShang went against master’s teachings. He probably won’t be able to return to Immortals Valley.”
Yu Fu furrowed her brow, “In truth, he was not like this before. Master clearly knew that the disciples from Western Kun had their ulterior motives, but he still allowed him to study because he felt that he was not a bad person. In the past, he liked laughing and messing around in Immortals Valley, and he always liked being around me. At that time, I felt that he was just a carefree person, but now, I understand that he just wanted to steal secret poisons.”
“He must have stolen the formula for the poison from me.”
Yu Fu felt a little responsible. In the past, she had been too young and was unable to take any precautions against Kun WuShang. As a result, he was able to steal the poison that master had been unwilling to give him.
It would have been one thing if it had been any other poison, but it just had to be changsheng san. It took tens of thousands of lives from the Gu family’s army.
Kun WuShang’s crimes were countless, while Yu Fu herself was not blameless.
She did not speak, but Gu ShuBai understood. He reached out and pulled her into his embrace, “Don’t think too much. It’s not your fault. I can tell that Kun WuShang was sincere with you. He does not want to hurt you. People have multiple faces, and in front of you, he is just a clingy junior disciple. It’s natural that you would be defenseless against him.”
Yu Fu snuggled in his arms. His skin smelled the same as her own, having the faint smell of fresh grass.
The two similar scents came together and mixed. It was as if the two people were originally part of the same person and were now reunited.
Yu Fu quietly said: “Back when we were in Immortals Valley, he really was not like he is now. He would run to the creek and steal the clothes that his fellow disciples had taken off. When they would chase after him and give him a beating, he would still be laughing. He would also buy all sorts of delicious treats to bribe Yao Lan just to speak a bit more with me… Yao Lan had always quite liked him, seeing him as an older brother. I had her stay in the tent also to keep her from hearing news about Kun WuShang.”
Gu ShuBai nodded, “It’s no wonder Yao Lan would often ask about information about him while we were in the capital. It turned out that this was something that had happened.”
“Yu Fu, people change. This is true for Kun WuShang, and you and I are also no exception. As a prince of Western Kun, there are many things that cannot be avoided, but mistakes are still mistakes. As for you, you are still young and will continue to grow up. You can’t keep looking at others with naive eyes. Do you understand?”
Yu Fu hesitated for a moment, “Will eldest brother also change?”
Gu ShuBai said with certainty, “Of course, I will. I will change with the times, and everyone will change. For example, father was previously unwilling to cross over the border to attack Western Kun, but that has also changed.”
Yu Fu said: “Head general and Kun WuShang are different. He does it to protect his family and country. His actions have changed, but his heart has not!”
After saying this, she fell deep into thought.
A person’s actions would change, but the heart would not. As long as one stayed true to themselves, there was no need to worry about constantly changing with the times.
“Then will eldest brother also change like head general did?”
She finally understood, and Gu ShuBai smiled, “Of course, all of the sons of Marquis Gu’s Manor were raised and taught by father, and we have all inherited his style.”
That was good. Yu Fu smiled and looked up at him. Just as she was about to say something, she suddenly heard the sound of a warning coming from the camp.
Western Kun’s army had come!
Gu ShuBai immediately stood up and started walking out. Yu Fu stuffed the porcelain bottle into his hands and stayed behind to send him off.
What came next would be his battlefield. She just needed to quietly stay here-
And wait for him to return.
Wait for Him to Return (Part Two)
At the decisive battle at Zhu Guan was imminent. The Gu family’s army was calmly waiting for the enemy to arrive.
Gu JiuGe and Gu HanMo, who were stationed in Weizhou and Changchuan, were also waiting. They were waiting for their moment to fight to the death.
They had to lead the defenses of their respective cities against the enemy. The suffering that they had to endure on their own during the past few days was even harder to bear than waiting for a blade that was already resting on their necks.
Yet they could not allow themselves to show it in front of their subordinates. They needed to maintain a calm disposition in front of the troops to steady their hearts and pretend that they had some way of keeping Western Kun’s army outside their gates.
Even if they could not win, they would at least be able to stall until reinforcements arrived.
Normally, Gu HanMo would train with his sword every day. After arriving in Changchuan, he was no longer in the mood to train. He spent his days engaged in a staring contest with the troop deployment map in the main tent.
The problem was that the map did not have eyes, while he did, and his eyes quickly turned bloodshot.
In just a few short days, he reflected on all of the military tactics that Gu HuaiJiang and Gu ShuBai had taught him. He considered which battle formations would be best suited for the upcoming battle.
Kun WuShang did not keep them waiting too long, and the day of the battle finally came.
Gu ShuBai got up early in the morning and took a deep breath of the fresh air outside his tent. The autumn wind had a desolate and sandy smell that was unlike the air in the capital.
The autumn wind in the capital was milder and more humid, and it carried the faint fragrance of osmanthus flowers.
This place just smelled dry and sandy. The fallen leaves were picked up by the wind and would occasionally hit people in the face, causing a bit of stinging pain.
He had a feeling that Kun WuShang would commence his attack today.
Yu Fu hugged her treasured chest. The chest that she was holding was a little large, and it blocked her vision of her feet. she tripped over a small stone and nearly fell over.
Fortunately, someone grabbed her arm, and that person was Gu ShuBai.
“Where has Yao Lan gone? Why is she not carrying the chest for you? I haven’t seen her at your side over the past few days. What have you told her to do?”
Yu Fu stood up straight and steadied herself, “She hasn’t gone to do much. I told her to rest inside the tent. On the horse ride over here, her body was covered in bruises. To this date, Yao Lan had not suffered so greatly. Naturally, she should be allowed to get some rest. It’s fine if she is not here with us. I can carry this chest myself.”
Gu ShuBai smiled upon hearing this, “She had not suffered so greatly up to this moment. Could it be that you have?”
Yu Fu was clearly the young miss, while Yao Lan was the maidservant, thus Yu Fu would be infinitely nobler; however, she took care of things herself to allow Yao Lan to rest.
Yu Fu tilted her head and thought for a bit, “It can’t be considered suffering, but when second brother and I went to Changzhou last winter, we also rode day and night without resting through the snow. I would have more experience than her, right?”
Saying this, she patted her treasured chest, “Eldest brother, I happened to have something to discuss with you. Let’s go and discuss it inside the tent!”
The sentry stationed outside the tent brought them breakfast. It was plain congee with some side dishes. Fortunately, it had the shredded meat that Yu Fu loved.
The two ate breakfast while chatting. Yu Fu held her spoon in one hand and pulled out a green porcelain bottle from her treasured chest, “I went through my medicine kit last night and thought about what might be of use and found this.”
Gu ShuBai raised an eyebrow. He felt that there was something strange about the green patches on this bottle. It looked like it was a poison that was meant to cause harm to others.
Could it be that Yu Fu was thinking of copying Kun WuShang and using the poison on the land?
He put down his spoon and wiped the corner of his mouth, “What is the drug?”
“It’s a medicine that master created to treat metal-inflicted wounds. It’s very effective on external injuries. If you guys get injured during battle and can’t stop the bleeding, this can quickly stop the bleeding. When I first left Immortals Valley, master gave it to me. I left it inside the chest and nearly forgot about it.”
Yu Fu had never suffered any external injuries, nor had she ever had a wound that did not stop bleeding. At worst, she had a nosebleed that would not stop when she was younger.
This unique medicine was one that she never had a chance to use.
It turned out that it was a medicine for metal-inflicted wounds…
Gu ShuBai let out a sigh of relief, received the porcelain bottle, then brought it up to his nose to sniff it, “I thought it was some sort of poison. I recall the more poisonous items in your chest all had strange bottles.”
“Those are all poisons that I prepared. It makes it a bit easier to remember. This is a medicine that master gave me, and all of the bottles that master uses are very strange. He really likes buildings with strange architecture and medicine bottles with strange shapes.”
Yu FU patiently explained then earnestly said: “When it comes to poisons that can be used on the battlefield, I don’t have any fewer compared to Kun WuShang, but I despise such things. Using poison to poison a large area is indeed powerful, but the damage to the land is too great. If one is not careful, it will cause harm to the innocent. Even if the ones harmed are just Western Kun’s citizens, they’re still innocents.”
Gu ShuBai found her point of view to be quite novel and patted her on the head, “I also feel this way. Who knew that the two of us would happen to have the same opinion. The battlefield is a place where soldiers belong. Regardless of which country’s citizens we are speaking of, they should not be implicated. You are very correct. If father heard what you said, he would definitely be very proud of you.”
Yu Fu obediently looked up at him, resembling a well-behaved cat laying in a person’s lap.
She said: “Head general feels this way, and master also feels this way. He has never approved of us spreading that sort of poison on the battlefield. It is very potent, and it’s very easy for innocent people to get injured. Master said that that poison was meant to be used to escape from an enemy’s trap, but Kun WuShang went against master’s teachings. He probably won’t be able to return to Immortals Valley.”
Yu Fu furrowed her brow, “In truth, he was not like this before. Master clearly knew that the disciples from Western Kun had their ulterior motives, but he still allowed him to study because he felt that he was not a bad person. In the past, he liked laughing and messing around in Immortals Valley, and he always liked being around me. At that time, I felt that he was just a carefree person, but now, I understand that he just wanted to steal secret poisons.”
“He must have stolen the formula for the poison from me.”
Yu Fu felt a little responsible. In the past, she had been too young and was unable to take any precautions against Kun WuShang. As a result, he was able to steal the poison that master had been unwilling to give him.
It would have been one thing if it had been any other poison, but it just had to be changsheng san. It took tens of thousands of lives from the Gu family’s army.
Kun WuShang’s crimes were countless, while Yu Fu herself was not blameless.
She did not speak, but Gu ShuBai understood. He reached out and pulled her into his embrace, “Don’t think too much. It’s not your fault. I can tell that Kun WuShang was sincere with you. He does not want to hurt you. People have multiple faces, and in front of you, he is just a clingy junior disciple. It’s natural that you would be defenseless against him.”
Yu Fu snuggled in his arms. His skin smelled the same as her own, having the faint smell of fresh grass.
The two similar scents came together and mixed. It was as if the two people were originally part of the same person and were now reunited.
Yu Fu quietly said: “Back when we were in Immortals Valley, he really was not like he is now. He would run to the creek and steal the clothes that his fellow disciples had taken off. When they would chase after him and give him a beating, he would still be laughing. He would also buy all sorts of delicious treats to bribe Yao Lan just to speak a bit more with me… Yao Lan had always quite liked him, seeing him as an older brother. I had her stay in the tent also to keep her from hearing news about Kun WuShang.”
Gu ShuBai nodded, “It’s no wonder Yao Lan would often ask about information about him while we were in the capital. It turned out that this was something that had happened.”
“Yu Fu, people change. This is true for Kun WuShang, and you and I are also no exception. As a prince of Western Kun, there are many things that cannot be avoided, but mistakes are still mistakes. As for you, you are still young and will continue to grow up. You can’t keep looking at others with naive eyes. Do you understand?”
Yu Fu hesitated for a moment, “Will eldest brother also change?”
Gu ShuBai said with certainty, “Of course, I will. I will change with the times, and everyone will change. For example, father was previously unwilling to cross over the border to attack Western Kun, but that has also changed.”
Yu Fu said: “Head general and Kun WuShang are different. He does it to protect his family and country. His actions have changed, but his heart has not!”
After saying this, she fell deep into thought.
A person’s actions would change, but the heart would not. As long as one stayed true to themselves, there was no need to worry about constantly changing with the times.
“Then will eldest brother also change like head general did?”
She finally understood, and Gu ShuBai smiled, “Of course, all of the sons of Marquis Gu’s Manor were raised and taught by father, and we have all inherited his style.”
That was good. Yu Fu smiled and looked up at him. Just as she was about to say something, she suddenly heard the sound of a warning coming from the camp.
Western Kun’s army had come!
Gu ShuBai immediately stood up and started walking out. Yu Fu stuffed the porcelain bottle into his hands and stayed behind to send him off.
What came next would be his battlefield. She just needed to quietly stay here-
And wait for him to return.
