novelraw Chapter 782 - 761: At Will
Chapter 782 - 761: At Will
Xie Jue waited until the troops broke camp and set off, yet Fang Chuning still hadn’t come out. He couldn’t help but feel uneasy, wondering if the Commander had noticed something. For the first time, he faced an elder with a sense of guilt and anxiety. Xie Jue resolved that for the journey ahead, he absolutely couldn’t indulge Fang Chuning’s whims. If Fang Chuning chose to act recklessly, he would not condone it.
Should the Commander truly catch on to something and create a stir, the Jiangnan Army was here as well. Fang Chuning would eventually lead the Jiangnan Army. He absolutely couldn’t allow Fang Chuning to make a fool of himself in the army. The envoy’s journey to Sannan was fraught with uncertainties; not a single mistake could be afforded.
Xie Jue felt unsettled. Lin Xiao and Zhang Boxin were also caught in a whirlwind of mixed emotions. They didn’t know what had provoked Xie Jue and ended up being scolded. Zhang Boxin repeatedly asked Lin Xiao, "What did we say wrong?"
"Perhaps it’s because the Prince and Mr. Fang have had a falling out, completely cutting ties, and don’t want us to keep bringing it up?"
"They’ve been sharing a tent this whole journey, and you’re telling me they’ve fallen out?" Zhang Boxin frowned. "If we fell out, would we sleep together?"
"Get lost. You don’t even wash your feet—who would want to sleep with you?"
"In this desolate wilderness, how could anyone wash their feet every day? Wait... Have we slept together before?"
Lin Xiao, "..."
Even if he and Zhang Boxin shared a tent, they slept separately.
"Enough. Don’t pry into the Prince’s affairs." Xie Jue’s temper was different from Xie Xun’s. Xie Xun could laugh and joke with them freely, but in front of Xie Jue, they dared not be overly presumptuous.
When nighttime fell and the camp was set up, Fang Chuning still hadn’t returned. Fang Chuning’s personal soldiers remained nearby, while Xie Jue directed his Shadow Guards to pitch a simple tent beside him. He instructed Ying Er to stand guard there no matter what, firmly preventing Fang Chuning from indulging himself again. Fang Chuning had been talking with the Commander all along and still hadn’t appeared. Xie Jue couldn’t help but feel a little anxious. He considered sending Ying Liu to scout for news but quickly reconsidered, fearing the Commander might misinterpret his actions as spying. If their conversation pertained to Jiangnan’s military affairs, it would cause unnecessary trouble.
"Master, there is a natural hot spring pool on the northern hillside. Would you like to head there to wash up?" After scouting the surrounding environment, Ying Liu came to report to Xie Jue.
During the march, conditions were rudimentary, making it impossible to wash daily. The Shadow Guards were well aware of their master’s preferences. Thus, they would survey the surroundings as soon as they set up camp and look for suitable places. They found a natural hot spring this time. Typically, camps were established near streams, which facilitated washing and cooking. The soldiers would wash quickly in the nearby streams. Xie Jue either waited until deep into the night when no one was around or held off altogether, avoiding washing in streams alongside the soldiers.
Seeing that Fang Chuning had yet to return, Xie Jue decided not to wait any longer and went to the natural hot spring on the hillside to wash up. The warm waters of the spring were soothing, and soaking for a while brought comfort to his entire body.
"I thought you’d wait for me back at camp, but here you are enjoying yourself alone. Comfortable?" A teasing voice from Fang Chuning came from behind.
Xie Jue was resting with his eyes closed, pondering Fang Chuning’s conversation with the Commander. He hadn’t expected to hear his voice and inwardly cursed his Shadow Guards, not even bothering to open his eyes.
Even with his eyes shut, he could hear the faint rustling sounds as Fang Chuning removed his shoes, socks, and clothes. Wearing only his inner trousers, he stepped into the hot spring.
"Stay away from me." Xie Jue noticed the sound of the water shifting and his Adam’s apple bobbed slightly. He restrained his tone to remind Fang Chuning to maintain his distance.
"We’ve bathed in hot springs together before. Why act so distant now... Husband?"
Xie Jue, "..."
The Shadow Guards standing nearby wished they could dig out their own ears. As they averted their gaze when Fang Chuning arrived, practicing the principle of "see no evil," they now wished they could cover their ears to adhere to "hear no evil." Yet as Shadow Guards, their eyes and ears couldn’t leave their master—not with the risk of someone lurking nearby that could lead to trouble.
Ying Liu bitterly regretted letting Fang Chuning pass!
Husband...
Just listen. Just listen. How can one utter such words shamelessly?
Fang Chuning had no qualms calling out "husband" when disguised as Lan Ningzhen, repeating the term over and over throughout the day until he was satisfied. Never once did he think calling someone "husband" was shameful.
"The Shadow Guards are right nearby—what nonsense are you..." Xie Jue opened his eyes, intending to chastise him, only to see Fang Chuning standing directly across from him, so close that their proximity was palpable. The exposed upper half of his body glistened with dampness, water droplets trailing from his neck and cascading downward. His taut and toned chest bore crisscrossed scars—marks of his battles on the frontlines—which were far from unsightly. Instead, they lent a deadly allure to his already devilish features, muting his overly refined appearance with a touch of the bloodthirsty and magnifying the valiance befitting a Junior General.
The moon hung high, its soft glow gently spilling across the waters of the hot spring. His brows and eyes were bathed in the mingling shimmer of water vapor and moonlight, emanating a sense of tender intimacy. Xie Jue’s heart skipped a beat, his entire being heated to feverish tension. Instinctively, he moved backward to avoid any compromising situation.
The Shadow Guards scrambled to dismount from the trees. "Master, we’re leaving! Please do as you wish!"
Xie Jue, "..."