Chapter 87: I Need to Save Face Too

Inside the An Yang City, soldiers in the barracks voluntarily move away to open a path for the convoy entering the city.

The killing intent clouding those black armored soldiers and the blood scent lingering on their blades make horses uneasy. Regular soldiers do not dare have eye contact with them and thus only move aside hanging their head.

The two carriages have already departed from the convoy. One carries Ying Yiren and his wife, another by hearsay Lu Buwei’s father.

Gu Nan has never seen his father as nothing ever happened to that carriage despite the chaos during the battle.

The An Yang city, previously named Fen city has changed to its current name since Wang He seized it with the Qin reinforcement after the defeat.

The king of Qin let him stay here also for the intention to invade north and recapture Chang Ping once they have the opportunity.

After the convoy enters the barrack, Wang He in person comes out to welcome them.

Lu Buwei hurries forward and bows: “General Wang.”

“It was a rough trip you had, mister.”

Ying Yiren and the woman holding their child also step out of the carriage. But for some reason, the woman keeps peeking at Gu Nan.

Seeing Wang He, Ying Yiren salutes: “General.”

“Um, noble prince.” Wang He returns the greeting. To be allowed by the king of Qin to come back as well as receiving military escort dispatched by his highness suggest that Ying Yiren must be an important figure.

Perhaps, there soon will be a significant transformation of his identity after his return.

However, Wang He does not bother to get closer to Ying Yiren, since he does not like the twists and turns that often happen on the court anyway.

“By the script of his highness, I will personally escort you to the capital. Please rest assured, noble prince.”

“Then,” realizing that he has finally come back after a year of time, Ying Yiren feels his eyes wet and bows deeply, “thank you, general.

I, Ying Yiren has returned to the great kingdom of Qin!

“Well, it is only my duty.”

Casually waving his hand, Wang he looks at the person behind Ying Yiren and shows a bright grin.

“Long time no see, my niece Gu. Why didn’t you say hello to your uncle Wang here?”

Wang He very much likes this disciple of his old friend’s, especially given her character and capability.

His Niece!?

The other three are shocked hearing this, and turns their sights toward the general in grayish white robe, full of disbelief in their eyes.

This general is a woman?

Afterall, it is difficult for anybody to accept the fact that a sharp and fierce general wearing a mask of vicious beast could be a woman.

In front of the cheerful Wang He, Gu Nan helplessly removes the helmet and shows her face.

Black hair cascades down her back out of the helmet. Behind the mask reveals a delicate but also handsome woman’s face.

Wearing a general robe, she possesses a bearing distinct from other women.

“Uncle Wang, I am also a general; please save my face.”

“Ah? Ha ha.”

Stroking his beard, Wang He notices that he addressed her improperly.

“My bad; my bad.”

The other three people stares at her, stupefied.

Lu Buwei swallows hard but still manages his expression to not leak out anything inappropriate.

Ying Yiren, however, is completely stunned and, after a while, only raises his trembling hand pointing at Gu Nan.

The melody! The melody of Butterfly Chasing Flowers! Yes, that one!

He stutters: “Gu, Brother Gu!”

Gu Nan returns a gentle smile and bows to Ying Yiren: “Brother Yiren, it has been a long time since we last met.”

“Well, well.” Ying Yiren laughs out, and shows the expression of joy for the first time since they took off on an escape.

“My brother Gu, you should have told me that it was you this whole time by my side as my guard. What a surprise. What a surprise that brother Gu is adept at pen as well as blades.”

Saying so he raises his fist jokingly about to punch on Gu Nan’s shoulder.

But then, he remembers that Gu Nan is a woman, and his hand freezes midair.

“It is not a proper place to reminisce in the army. Noble prince, please forgive me.”

Gu Nan speaks in a tone of light indifference, and Ying Yiren catches that.

He opens mouth trying to say something but only closes it in silence. Then he lowers his head, his hand dropped to his sides fidgeting.

“Ah, you are right. It is not good of me to reminisce here.”

Remembering what he did in the past few days, he has a bitter feeling in his mind.

He knows that it was his stinginess and selfishness that made Gu Nan changes her attitude toward her. But what else could he do?

Even though their time together was little, Gu Nan has become one of his few friends.

Ying Yiren recalls the time when he was little and asked his father why he always called himself Gua.

His father looked at him and said: “A king is both lofty and relieved from emotions, hence called Gua. (From author: This was only his father’s feelings. In fact, Gua or Gua’ren is a modest way for a king to address himself, meaning “still lacking in morality”) *Gua has the literal meaning of “lacking.”*

Then looking at Gu Nan, he forces up a smile: “Brother Gu, you never told me that you are a woman, which really surprises me.”

“I, I am tired as well. Please show us the place to rest, general Wang. Brother Gu, we will chat next time.”

Wang He nods. Two soldiers step forward to lead the carriages elsewhere, leaving only Gu Nan and her camp crushers in place.

Gu Nan turns around to face the camp crushers and waves: “Whole army, at ease.”

“Clang.” After a burst of noise of armor pieces colliding against each other, all soldiers sit down at once.  

Some starts to wipe their gears clean, while others take out cloth strips to bandage their wounds.

Due to the rapid march for the whole night, they never had any time to attend to their wounds.

They are absolute elites. Seeing these, Wang He nods to himself.

Then he looks at Gu Nan: “Uncle Wang knows what you like. Come, I still have some stored.”

Saying so, he pats Gu Nan with a smile and leads her to a quarter in the barrack.

Wang He was stationed here in an emergency and hence, as a general, he does not have a residence yet and can only live in a quarter.

Wang He brings two jars of wine and sits across from Gu Nan.

“Here, my treat.”

During the battle of Chang Ping, Gu Nan was scolded by Bai Qi multiple times for complaining that she did not get any liquor to drink. As a result, Wang He already knows this hobby of hers.

However, Gu Nan waves her hand unexpectedly: “I don’t drink anymore.”

“You don’t?” Wang He was distracted momentarily.

“Um.” Gu Nan takes a shallow breath and speaks casually: “My master, that old man used to say that alcohol does nothing good.  I did not listen, but now am ready to quit.”

Ah, Bai Qi.

Pursing his lips, Wang he pats the wine jar and then takes it aside. “True, alcohol does nothing good.”

Then, he sees the mourning dress under Gu Nan’s armor, and signs with a smile.

But you are one who treasures the memory of those close you.

My old friend, you did not take a disciple in vain.