The Ageless Dream

11.3 Jie Ming's Gift (45)

"It hurts!" Huang Zhao's voice resounded outside the tent. Some soldiers who were walking around continued their movements when they heard a low grunt from him.

"Don't worry. I'll do it slowly so it wont hurt. Now let me." Dong Li Hua spoke, arousing curiosity from the outsiders. They glanced to each other, not knowing what is really happening.

"Ow! You're too forceful! Do it gently, please?" with that being said, the soldiers around felt there is something wrong. It can't be that...

"Hmph." Dong Li Hua scoffed, dabbing the packed ice on Huang Zhao's lip. She just punched him accurately this morning and left behind a trace of bruise. It's a good thing the storage in the camp have some ice. "You started it so I will do the rest."

Huang Zhao hissed after she pressed the fabric filled with ice on the bruise. He never knew she can be so hostile when retaliating. Thinking if she were to know he is fooling her all the time, what will she do? Just picturing the scene made him shiver.

"Miss, is Xiao Hu with you?" Jie Cui entered the tent with a worried look while wringing the handkerchief in her grasp.

"No, why?" Dong Li Hua turned but because of getting distracted, she deepened the force in dabbing the ice.

"Ah Li!" Huang Zhao hissed; pain etched across his jadeite white face. Dong Li Hua noticed this and threw a look of apology.

"Xiao Hu has been missing since yesterday noon, Miss. The meal nübi prepared for her were left untouched."

"Missing?" she stood up from her seat in alarm.

"Ow!" the silent Huang Zhao winced. She exerted too much effort again and he suffered too much grievances.

"Ah, so cute." nearby the camp, a young woman dressed in black martial robe is standing there while holding a white kitten in her arms. On top of her head is a fox mask with red stripes. She took out a small piece of bread from her pouch and gave it to the kitten. "I love your green eyes." the young woman cheerfully said, watching Xiao Hu gnaw on the bread.

A low roar came from behind her. The young woman's phoenix eyes glanced at the back to see a white tiger with blue eyes. She faintly smiled and bent down to stroke its ear. "Lan Hu, you finished the call of nature, eh. Come, lets head back to your master."

After saying that, the young woman wore her mask to cover her whole face. She headed to the military camp with the small and large cat in tow. The soldiers outside is about to stop her when they froze.

"Fox mask with red stripes."

"A female elite imperial guard."

"Quick, report to General Huang!"

"Open the gate, let her pass."

"Is General Huang inside?" she asked, arriving in front of a soldier as Lan Hu stood next to her.

"Answering Miss, General Huang is in his tent.

"Guide the way." the young woman glanced towards Lan Hu. They entered the military camp and eventually reaching Huang Zhao's tent. She stroked Xiao Hu who suddenly jumped. "Little one, wait."

"We should find Xiao Hu. Im worried for-" Dong Li Hua is about to finish nagging Huang Zhao when a white lump of fur dashed to her. She was stunned to see Xiao Hu settling herself on her lap.

"Lan Hu?" Huang Zhao stood up from his seat. He placed his chopsticks down to look at the white tiger that is waving its tail to him.

Just then, a slim figure in black martial suit entered the tent. Huang Zhao stiffened and Dong Li Hua stared at the unexpected guest as she continued to eat rice. "Hm? Fox mask?" she raised a brow when she recalled the Thousand Plums of Muted Fragrance. The woman Yan Ah Xian got into a fight with is a woman who wears a fox mask with red stripes.

"This... Green eyes?" the other girl gasped behind her mask. She removed it, exposing a seductive beauty within. Red plump lips, phoenix eyes, a perfect nose and thin slender eyebrows.

"Huang Zhao, she is?" Dong Li Hua asked after taking last taste on the rice. She frowned seeing that familiar face but what she is concerned now is the relationship between Huang Zhao and that girl.

"Sister Hua." the young woman unconsciously dropped her mask. She intently gazed to Dong Li Hua, clearly stupefied in seeing her here.

"Sister Hua?" Huang Zhao and Dong Li Hua were confused that they asked in unison.

"Sister Hua, its been four years. I..."

"You know me?" Dong Li Hua pointed to herself when Huang Zhao pulled her up.

"Ah Li, walk Lan Hu around the camp. He is not accustomed here yet." he squeezed her hand secretly, his gaze saying she should leave. Dong Li Hua glanced to the guest then reluctantly nodded.

"Lan Hu, lets go." she smiled towards the tiger then picked Xiao Hu in her arms before they got out.

"Sister Hua, wait-"

"What are you doing?!" Huang Zhao grabbed the woman's wrist. He knitted his brows and dragged her to another area of the tent.

"Strange. Why would Huang Zhao ask me to go out?" Dong Li Hua questioned herself, guiding Lan Hu farther when her stomach growled. "Sigh. That mean monkey. I hadn't finished eating yet! Let me go back and take a bun first."

She turned back to the tent when she heard Huang Zhao's frustrated voice. "I told you to go back to Xianyang, right? Why are you still here?"

"Why? I've been worried something might happen to you after that war! Can I not visit you before I leave? What if you acquired injuries? Furthermore, why is she with you? Trying to fool around her? Have you forgotten the past?"

"Lover's quarrel?" Dong Li Hua amusingly sneered. She continued eavesdropping with her heavy need of popcorns.

"Leave. Go back to Xianyang and don't come here until I need your presence."

"You hadn't answered my question."

"Does it matter? Just please leave Xinzheng, Xie Er."

"Xie Er? Xie Er?!" Dong Li Hua's eyes rounded. No wonder that woman is familiar, it was Xie Er!