I stuck my face into the icy spring water lake and was instantly assaulted by a bone-chilling cold that permeated my body and made me shiver.
There was snowfall for a few days and after it stopped, the weather became colder and colder. But it is at these times that I am more willing to take in my surroundings. I engraved the cold like the chill I got just now into my heart so that I can recall this sensation and remain cool inside when summer returns.
At this time, we have stopped for rest and are currently enjoying the beautiful winter scenery.
“Oh~~~”
“Don’t roll about little sister! You’ll catch a cold!”
Mi Zhen rolled about on the snowy ground after she got down from the carriage with a look of sheer joy on her face. Gan Qing, on the other hand, was picking up the thick clothing Mi Zhen took off and chasing after her.
Playing around is fine but it wouldn’t be fun anymore if she were to get sick.
“Hua Tuo, go and give Gan Qing a hand…”
“Oh~~~~”
I turned to speak to Hua Tuo, in the hopes that she could help, but this girl who was about the same age as me was currently rolling about on the ground like a kid as well.
Never mind, they’ve been cooped up in the carriage all this while after all.
Speaking of which, would there be game to hunt in the surrounding forests at this time of the year? The last time we had meat was back in Xuchang.
“Lord Lu Bu, Wen Yuan, let’s go hu…”
“Hua… Hu…”
“… Wen Yuan, stop snoring!”
I turned to the other side and found Lu Bu and Wen Yuan lying down on the snow. Wen Yuan was already fast asleep and soundly snoring while Lu Bu was frowning and had an irritated look, probably because she couldn’t sleep with the snoring beside her.
We’ve been taking turns to keep watch all this while, and we haven’t enough to eat so it’s no wonder they are fatigued.
But I really didn’t think that everyone would be so indolent.
Haa~~ I yawned as I thought so.
“General Guan, I have some matters regarding the troops that I wish to consult you on.”
At this time, the only one who was still energetic was Liao Hua, who did not was still recording every last detail about our journey.
“You really are hardworking huh…”
“I was a Registrar after all.” She flicked her hair back as she said so as a matter of factly with a blank expression. She then came up closer to me with the scroll as she continued, “About the recruitment of troops… Ah!”
A sudden flying missile made Liao Hua cry out in surprise, and the fragments of a snowball could be seen on her face.
Of course, the one who threw it was me.
“Liao Hua, if you’re going to come with us, then don’t be so serious all the time and have fun when we can!” I smirked at her as I said so, and continued to collect snow from the ground to make more projectiles with, feeling the cold chill in my hands as I did so.
Liao Hua sighed and shook her head but she immediately squatted down, with an expression that was utterly devoid of excitement, and began making snowballs with a professional air about her.
It’s not a bad thing to enjoy the pleasures that winter has to afford while there’s snow about.
In any case, we were now in an area not too far from Xingyang city so having a bit of fun now was reasonable.
Xingyang was very big for a county city. Looking about, the scars of war are quite faint and the feeling you get from the surrounding forests is not one of bloodshed but nature.
“Achoo!” At this time, Liao Hua was continuously sneezing and her body was drenched.
I felt very amused for some reason when I saw Liao Hua in this state, and couldn’t help but laugh softly at the sight before me
“My lord, why do you look so tired?”
“I was kept awake by the snoring of a certain someone…”
Lu Bu was infuriated but ut seems like Wen Yuan doesn’t know that she snores.
“Alright, shall I start announcing our presence now?” I asked everyone about me. When I saw that they all nodded, I packed away the feelings I had about what happened at Dongling Pass and got ready to yell out.
*Shiku*—
“We are…”
“Are the ones below Guan Yu, Marquis of Hanshou Village, and her companions?”
*Pu* I was forced to swallow back the rest of my words when the city tower yelled out the words I was about to yell out myself.
“May I ask, are you all here to cross the pass?” The ones in the city tower asked.
Eh? What’s going on?
“Liao Hua…” I addressed Liao Hua, hoping she could give me an explanation as I was baffled but Liao Hua only tilted her head at me, and looked just as puzzled as I was.
If they had heard rumours about us, then they could have just sent troops out to face us… Why continue dialogue?
Just as we were all baffled at what was going on, the ones at the city tower continued–
“Lord Guan Yu! Just in time! Your permit has just arrived!”