On Track

The men all scream to eachother orders like: tie the horse there, you sleep here, is the food ready? Etc...

So in the mist of the confusion I slip away to refresh myself at a nearby little lake until the food is ready...

For our first night we found an empty area by a forest, big enough to host us all decently.

Our normal nights on travel will consist in tiying the horse somewhere random, take out a blanket and lay on the ground... If you are lucky you can even start a fire to keep yourself warm.

The weather is starting to get colder, even more as we approach the northern regions.

I take one of the pieces of soap I managed to buy and head inside the water, leaving my clean clothes behind...

I take off my inner robe before stepping in the lake

-It's... So cold- I whisper to myself with cleanched teeth as the icy water embrace my body

I quickly begin scrubbing myself trying to get used to the temperature...

I feel a weird sensation... As if someone was hugging me with their arms around my waist

-Who's there...?!-

I turn around but there's nobody... The only thing left is a slightly warmer water or maybe just the sensation of it.

-What was that...? Ah... Nevermind-

As I am almost done, a crack comes from the wood and some laughterw follow the sound...

-Now she will be forced to get back naked haha-

-Idiots...- cleanching my teeth I turn to the little beach, wearing my inner robe and grabbing the knife under it to then begin following the sound of those men...

They get back to the "camp" entering an improvised tend, made of blankets layed over some tree branches, to probably hide the stolen clothes...

I stand outside with crossed arms waiting for them to come back out

-Lai'Er...? What are you doing here all wet?-

-Uhm? Liutenant Luo... Some men stole my clothes, I'm gonna get em back-

-Oh? Leave it to me...- he sighs but I shake my head as a reply

The men comes outside the tend laughing but stops after seeing Liutenant Qin Luo

-Uhm... What's happening?-

-Excuse me... I'll take that sword- I say leaning foward to the man's hip

-Wait no... That's mine!- he back walk in vain

-So you actually care about ownership? I thought you wouldn't mind having stole from me- I swing the sword away from his hands trying to take it back

-Haha look at you! Looking like a mouse-

Thrusting the sword, I cut down his clothes leaving him with just his fragmented pants

-Wouldn't that be nice to go around like that? Or should I strip you of one more layer?-

-But I'm not wearing anything more...!- I push the tio of the sword on his chest

-Really? I think I'm seeing one more layer here...-

-N n no! I... I understand, I'm sorry really! Let me get your clothes back!-

-And what about those other mens...?- I direct my eyes to them and they both gulp down, backwalking frog me and their superior

-Uhm... We...-

-That's enough Miss Ying, give back the sword now- warns me Qin Luo, who was just starting with crossed arms untill now

-Sure Sir-

The man reach out to take it back but I let it fall, sticking on the ground -Ops... Now scram-

-Y yes!- -Woa... That stare...-

-Gave me chills too, thought she was really gonna hurt me... And with the Liutenant on her side I didn't knew how to act- the guys run away murmuring, oeaving me the access free to the small provisory tend

-Am I gonna get punished...?- I ask to the Liutenant on the other side of the blanket as I get changed

-No... But try to not threaten your comrades as an hobby maybe-

-Mhn... As long as I don't need to, of course-

I can hear him sigh -That determination... Try to take it with you once we reach the battlefield.

Anyway, come to the pot once you're ready... At least the food we want it to be warm no?-

-Mhn sure- I nod securing my belt tighter

Approaching the pot tons of men are walking around with their bowls...

Hundreds of men radunated for the only decent meal of the day.

Quite a different sight from a few dozen of Nobles, eating raffinate food in a indoor hall...

A bit further away I see Qin Luo, seated on a wooden box, talking with a few other men grinning

-Oh the Star of the Armada!- he laughs, noticing me approach and show me to seat beside him

-Guys I present you Ying ChangLai, do you remember Ying PeiZhi? It's his sister- He taps my shoulder talking

-The one always alone in the training days? Now I see why her face is so familiar!- laughs one of the men

-I heard people saying you saved the Throne! To think the ol' Ying was hiding not one, but two precious soldiers in his house!-

The one talking looks a bit older, around 45 years or 50... No doubt he knows my old father.

When father was in his 30 years he was a soldier too, but was sent home after my mother was found pregnant with my brother since there was no actual need for so many soldiers back then...

They said he was quite popular among younger peoples, those who were young men back then often went to the older soldiers like my father to ask for help

-No need to make too much of a fuss... I'm not here just because of my fame-

-Oh I know that don't worry! Some voices slipped outside the Noble sections... I'm really looking forward to fight with you Miss-

-Thanks-

-Now then... Why don't we eat something my comrades?- smiles Qin Luo reaching to take a few bowls someone is passing him

-While it's still hot... You must be freezing after what happened- he whispers with a smile, handing me one

-So... Tell us more about how you saved the Throne!-

I turn to them -Well...-

...

-Lay wherever you want... I'll start a small fire- The Liutenant also used two blankets to form a little tend and his own cloak will be a bed

-Let me help you-

-It's fine there's no...-

As he talks I approach the bunch of rocks and wood, beginning to roll them and a sparkle start almost on his own enlightening the whole thing... "Could this be...?"

-Nevermind, thanks- he distract me from my thoughts and I just nod, going back under the little tend to lie on his cloak, using mine as a blanket, and and soon after he's liying a few centimeters beside me

-I'm sorry if this makes you uncomfortable...-

I shake my head -It's fine, back at the sect I used to share the same bed with a friend-

-And they allowed that...?!-

-Hahaha not really, he wasn't supposed to be in our room but didn't want to be left alone... But it's ok, he probably has someone much more suitable to fill my place now- I smile to myself

-Ah youth... Sometimes I forget that I'm not actually that old either haha- he rolls on his back, resting the head on his crossed arms

-Uhm... Actually... How old are you precisely?-

-Ah... Already 28 now... Not necessarily old but not a young boy anymore.

What about you Miss? You should be in your marriage age I suppose-

-Not really... I'm already 20 now-

-Oh really? How did you manage to surpass those years of proposals? If I may ask- he looks with curious eyes toward me

-My father was very understanding, enough to let me decide an husband myself... And I just didn't pick any...To think I will soon be 21...

I could pretty much be one of the first Nobles to pass her youth unmarried- I chuckle

-That's not a bad thing tho... I never understood such rules to be honest nor have I ever liked those... Life starts now so why forcing it to end?

Ah 20... Such a young and free age...-

He smiles closing his eyes as he turn around, facing the blanked-wall

-Uhm... I hope it will be free- are my last whispers before allowing myself relax for the night.