Under the astonished gaze of all the Wei soldiers, two young people from who-knows-where were taken to their camp by Lord Liu’s trusted aides.
In a spacious and tidy barrack, Gu Jiao t Liu Yisheng, whom she hadn’t seen for many years.
He was already in his thirties, having shed so of his youthful innocence, and gained an elegance and composure from the passage of ti, along with a certain noble aura and sharpness of a person in power.
Nine years can change a person a great deal.
Gu Jiao had heard people call him Liu Xiang in her dreams upon returning to the Marquis Residence, knowing that one day he would be titled Marquis and Chancellor. Yet seeing him in person was quite different from her imagination.
Perhaps she hadn’t expected him to break through the mountains and rivers of Zhan Country, returning with a determination for revenge.
As Gu Jiao looked at Liu Yisheng, Liu Yisheng was also looking at Gu Jiao.
Gu Jiao had changed a lot too; the birthmark on her face disappeared, revealing her uncaged beauty, unfamiliar yet delighting.
At twenty-four, she was at the age of blooming beauty, as enchanting as a fairy.
What hasn’t changed is the exuberant vitality she possessed, along with eyes that remained pure and unsullied.
It seems, no matter how many years have passed, no matter how much has been experienced, she never veered from her original intent.
"I’ll go out first," Jun Xiuhuan spoke.
"Alright," Liu Yisheng responded.
Jun Xiuhuan glanced at Xuanyuan Xi.
"I’m not going out!" Xuanyuan Xi said.
Liu Yisheng rarely smiled: "No matter."
Jun Xiuhuan was shocked.
He had never seen Liu Yisheng smile.
Liu Yisheng said to him, "Go attend to your affairs, I’m fine here."
Jun Xiuhuan glanced at Gu Jiao and said, "Her martial arts are very impressive." Then, he glanced at Xuanyuan Xi beside him, "This young man isn’t weak either."
He had witnessed Gu Jiao’s skills and knew she was a formidable fighter who could defeat Han Ye. And according to the intelligence they had gathered, the young leader next to her should be Champion Marquis Xuanyuan Xi.
Also not an average person.
If the two of them posed a threat to Liu Yisheng in the barrack, he wouldn’t have ti to co to the rescue.
"I know," Liu Yisheng said casually.
But since Liu Yisheng spoke thus, Jun Xiuhuan had no choice but to leave first.
There was only one Changsui in the barrack.
"Anu?" Gu Jiao looked at him.
Liu Yisheng seed in good spirits, his eyes filled with laughter: "Yes, you rember. Anu, do you rember Miss Gu?"
Anu nodded and cupped his hands in salute to Gu Jiao.
He was a mute, unable to speak.
He had grown taller and stronger, now a mature and reliable guard.
Gu Jiao nodded in greeting to him.
"It’s Jingkong, right?" Liu Yisheng then looked at Xuanyuan Xi beside Gu Jiao.
Xuanyuan Xi widened his eyes: "Hmm, you recognize ?"
Liu Yisheng spoke frankly: "I’ve heard your sister ntion you, and I’ve also investigated you."
Xuanyuan Xi: "Oh."
He didn’t ask why Liu Yisheng had investigated him.
Nine years ago, Gu Jiao played the zither for Liu Yisheng as she saw him off at the Pavilion, and that ti she brought Jingkong along.
Jingkong curiously asked so things about Liu Yisheng, and found out that he and Gu Jiao were kindred spirits.
When he returned, he bragged to his mischievous brother-in-law that Jiaojiao and Liu Yisheng harmoniously played music together, which made his mischievous brother-in-law quite jealous.
Later, he grew up and understood that harmoniously playing music didn’t quite an that, and besides Liu Yisheng had once played a flute with Jiaojiao in the carriage.
Xuanyuan Xi pouted and said, "We ca to beat you up, but you seem... not quite deserving of a beating."
Mostly because he hadn’t sensed any hostility or ill intentions towards Jiaojiao from Liu Yisheng.
He chuckled; he seed unbothered by Xuanyuan Xi’s bluntness, and sat down at the low table, asking the two of them, "Would you like so tea?"
Xuanyuan Xi didn’t want any; he curiously eyed the weapons and books in the tent.
"Feel free to look around," Liu Yisheng said kindly.
Xuanyuan Xi looked at Gu Jiao, and when he saw her nod, he went to peruse those books and weapons.
Gu Jiao knelt opposite Liu Yisheng.
Liu Yisheng picked up the boiling kettle from the easily accessible stove and brewed three cups of tea.
Gu Jiao asked, "How did you et Jun Xiuhuan?"
Liu Yisheng said, "His mother was from Zhan Country. Before his father brought him back to Yan Country, we lived on the sa alley and had a few encounters. Once, when he fainted from hunger, I carried him ho."
Gu Jiao suddenly understood: "No wonder."
Liu Yisheng handed the tea to Gu Jiao: "His family’s situation wasn’t great in Yan Country either. Fortunately, he was ambitious enough to get into Jianan Academy. You can almost guess the rest—through him I learned about you, and I deduced that ’Xiao Liulang’ was you."
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