Fei Jin understood imdiately. His expression turned serious as he nodded. "Alright, I’ll do as you say."
A mont later, Cheng Peng ca rushing back, panting for breath. He was holding a small, dark earthenware pot in one hand and a neatly folded, gray-green soldier’s uniform in the other.
He handed the items to Song Qingya, then consciously retreated to the courtyard entrance, turning his back to them and standing guard resolutely.
Only the two of them remained in the courtyard.
"Close your eyes."
Song Qingya said softly, her expression earnest, as if she were undertaking a critical mission.
She picked up the pot of soot, dabbed her fingers in the black ash, and began to sar it onto his face, bit by bit.
With a few quick strokes, Fei Jin’s handso face was covered in grayish-black marks. She added two grimy streaks to his cheeks, and he instantly looked travel-worn and weary.
Cheng Peng, bored while waiting outside, peeked through a crack in the window.
One look, and he almost burst out laughing.
’Does the man inside look anything like the stern, imposing village chief he usually is?’
’Covered in dirt and ash, he’s the spitting image of a common soldier who just crawled out of a mine!’
The corner of his mouth twitched uncontrollably. He held back his laughter so hard his face turned red, and tears welled up in his eyes.
"Alright, you can open your eyes now."
Song Qingya took a step back, examining him with satisfaction.
Smiling, she pulled him over to a basin of water where the morning light was reflected. "See the results for yourself."
Fei Jin looked down. The clear water reflected a grimy face, covered in dust, with a scratch mark on his temple, looking utterly wretched.
"Ahem..."
He cleared his throat, his voice dry and hoarse as if scoured by wind and sand.
"It’s... passable, I guess."
After he spoke, he gave a dry laugh and awkwardly rubbed the tip of his nose.
Song Qingya stood to the side, her gaze fixed on him. Seeing his wretched yet feignedly calm appearance, she finally couldn’t help but laugh.
"Hahaha..."
She doubled over with laughter, tiny tears forming in the corners of her eyes.
"Alright, alright, stop laughing."
Fei Jin frowned and glared at her, but the corner of his own mouth twitched involuntarily.
"If you keep laughing, the sun will be up. Are we leaving or not?"
Leaning against the stone wall with one hand, Song Qingya wiped the tears from her eyes, still catching her breath. "Okay, okay, I’ll stop laughing, I promise..."
She took a few deep breaths, managing to suppress her laughter. Her expression grew serious as she urged him, "Hurry up and change your clothes. We have to go. Cheng Peng is getting anxious waiting outside. It’s getting late; any more delays and we won’t make it."
He frowned slightly, a hint of hesitation on his face, as if he was deliberating over sothing.
"Just change here. It’s not like anyone else is around."
Song Qingya had already turned around to face away from him, her arms crossed. Her tone was calm but left no room for argunt.
"Alright."
Fei Jin replied in a low voice. It was quiet but carried a note of resignation.
He began, a bit awkwardly, to take off his tattered jacket and put on the coarse soldier’s uniform.
The fabric was scratchy against his skin, but he said nothing, silently adjusting the collar and cuffs.
A mont later, he gave a soft cough. "I’m changed."
Only then did Song Qingya slowly turn back around, her eyes carefully scanning him.
She looked him over from head to toe. Seeing this "new recruit" before her in a gray uniform with his cap pulled low, the corners of her lips curved up, and a glint of satisfaction flashed in her eyes.
"Mm, you look the part now."
She nodded, her tone firm with approval.
"Look the part of what?"
Fei Jin scratched the back of his head, his voice full of confusion.
Song Qingya shook her head with a smile, teasing him slightly. "What do you think? Like an ordinary little soldier. The kind no one would look at twice."
With that, she grabbed his arm. "Let’s go, no more dawdling."
The two of them walked out of the cave side by side. The night air was cool, dispelling so of the stuffiness.
As soon as Cheng Peng saw them erge, he imdiately ca forward. He circled Fei Jin, examining him carefully from top to bottom and making a "tsk tsk" sound.
"Ma’am, your skills are incredible! With this build, this aura, and this disguise...
"Even if the village chief stood right in front of soone, they wouldn’t recognize him!"
He then straightened up, gave them both a crisp military salute, and his expression instantly beca solemn. "Village Chief, Ma’am, everything is ready. We can depart."
"Good."
Song Qingya nodded lightly, her voice quiet but firm.
She paused, then looked at Cheng Peng and gave a steady order, "Cheng Peng, in a mont, I want you to arrange for Ajin to follow behind and leave last."
"Last?"
Cheng Peng was taken aback, his face showing confusion and worry.
"Have the village chief bring up the rear? That... that’s not appropriate, is it?"
He lowered his voice, speaking urgently. "The village chief’s status is too important. If sothing happens, who will take command? He should be leading from the front!"
Before he could finish, Fei Jin spoke in a deep voice, "No. I have to be at the front to protect Qingya."
He strode forward, his voice low but filled with undeniable force. "I can’t let her face danger. I have to be in front of her."
But Song Qingya cut him off directly, her tone calm and authoritative. "Cheng Peng, do as I say. Have Ajin go last."
Her gaze was as sharp as a blade as she looked directly at Cheng Peng. "His identity is too sensitive. If he’s exposed, it’s not just him—this entire operation will have been for nothing."
"Putting him at the back makes him a smaller target. If we’re attacked, he can also retreat faster. That’s an order."
Cheng Peng opened his mouth, wanting to say more, but it was as if his throat was blocked.
He looked at Song Qingya, then glanced back at Fei Jin, his face a mask of conflict.
"Ma’am, this...
What if sothing happens..."
"It’s settled."
The night wind swept past. Her gaze was as steady as a rock, without a hint of wavering.
Seeing her resolute attitude, Fei Jin knew that further argunt was useless. He gave a slight nod to the waiting Cheng Peng.
Cheng Peng looked at Fei Jin’s sowhat helpless expression and sighed softly. His voice held a mix of resignation and respect. "Alright, Ma’am. As you wish. I’ll go make the arrangents right away and won’t delay."
Song Qingya stood still, seemingly contemplating whether the arrangents were thorough enough. After a mont, she lifted her head, her gaze once again falling on Cheng Peng.
"Go and inform everyone in the camp to be on high alert. Watch our camp closely, especially the civilians who are with us. Wang Kang’s group hasn’t given up their wicked intentions. They’re likely to launch a sneak attack under the cover of darkness. We can’t afford a single slip-up."
Cheng Peng raised his right hand in a standard military salute, his voice booming like a bugle. "Understood, Ma’am! I’ll go deploy our people now. Not a single person will be missed!"
Fei Jin’s brow was still furrowed. He walked steadily over to Cheng Peng and instructed him in a low voice, word by word:
"Pick a few sharp n to follow Qingya discreetly. Just have them watch from a distance; don’t let her find out. That punk Wang Kang is completely unscrupulous and treacherous. I’m afraid he’ll pull so dirty trick and hurt her."
Although Song Qingya was standing a few steps away, the wind was blowing in just the right direction, and she overheard a few fragnted sentences. A sudden warmth flooded her heart.
’This man is so ticulous and decisive in battle, but when it cos to , why does he suddenly start fussing over with endless reminders?’
’It’s not like this is the first ti I’ve handled a situation like this.’
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