Husband, Take Me!

Yu Rou hurriedly covered her arm and stammered, "No... no, it's nothing. It got a little itchy from the wind some time ago, so I scratched it myself. I'm going to bathe first."

With that, Yu Rou ran off.

"Wind itch?"

Jiang Bei's pupils narrowed slightly. It clearly could not be that simple, but Xiao Rou did not seem willing to say more.

He would find a chance to ask her later.

He did not dwell on it. He changed into a clean set of clothes as well, then, with nothing else to do, prepared to wipe down the Horizontal Saber he carried with him.

But at that moment, the grass curtain was gently lifted by a slender, fair hand.

Mist rose in the air like drifting smoke, carrying the faintly astringent fragrance of soapberry as it rushed in ahead of her.

Then, a slender figure fully appeared.

Jiang Bei looked up, as though he were seeing his wife in name for the first time.

The gray exhaustion from the laundry yard, along with all the sweat and grime, had been washed away. Clear water had cleansed the dust from her, revealing astonishing beauty beneath.

Her smooth, satin-like black hair hung wet over her shoulders and back, tiny droplets continuously falling from its ends.

Several damp strands clung to the side of her fair neck and the edge of her full yet slightly weary red lips, lending her a languid, natural allure.

She wore only a plain white inner garment. The fabric was exceedingly thin, clinging tightly to her skin from the lingering moisture and instantly becoming half-transparent.

The dim yellow lamplight shone through the thin fabric, clearly outlining the captivating curves beneath her clothes.

The woman from the laundry yard, enduring humiliation and forcing herself to remain strong, now seemed like nothing more than a hazy illusion.

She simply stood there in silence, water droplets rolling from her hair and quietly vanishing into the shadowed neckline below. Even the crude furnishings of the barracks seemed to dim because of her presence.

Even Jiang Bei, steady as he was, felt his mind go blank for a moment. He forgot to speak, his gaze fixed firmly upon that breathtaking sight, his hand completely still on the Horizontal Saber.

"Husband... what's wrong?"

Yu Rou looked at the somewhat dazed Jiang Bei and spoke softly. A fragrance of orchids drifted slowly from her slightly parted red lips.

"Nothing... nothing. Xiao Rou, you're beautiful."

Jiang Bei said, forcing himself to remain calm.

At his words, a faint smile appeared on Yu Rou's lips. Then she slowly walked toward him. Her eyes were still swollen and red, with traces of tears from before her bath remaining on her face.

Yet with every step she took, there was a resolve that seemed to throw everything to the wind.

"Husband..."

Yu Rou's voice trembled, carrying a sorrow he had never heard before.

Before Jiang Bei could ask about the marks on her arm, her delicate legs gave way, and she fell into his arms like a startled butterfly, bringing with her the warmth of fresh bathwater and the faint scent of soapberry.

She clung tightly around Jiang Bei's waist, and her scalding tears instantly soaked the front of his clothes.

"Take me, Husband! Please!" Yu Rou raised her tear-streaked face, her eyes filled with humble pleading and despair. "I'm willing to do anything. I'll never make you dislike me again... Please, don't despise me anymore..."

"Despise you?"

Jiang Bei was shaken by her sudden actions and words. Stunned, he asked, "Xiao Rou, when have I ever despised you?"

Yu Rou's tear-filled eyes blurred as her voice broke. "For the past year... you... you never touched me... I thought... I thought I had made you hate me, that I wasn't worthy... In the end, you were sent to the Death Squad Camp because of it. It was all my fault..."

Hearing this, Jiang Bei immediately thought it over. Feeling through the memories that belonged to the original owner of this body, he understood everything in an instant.

That was it!

The original owner had suffered hidden injuries in his early years, leaving him with an ailment that rendered him impotent!

For the past year, the original owner had sought doctors and remedies everywhere. Ashamed beyond measure, he could only deliberately keep his distance from Yu Rou and avoid such matters.

Yet Yu Rou had taken that unspoken distance as rejection. She had silently endured the misunderstanding and torment, blaming every grievance on herself!

The original owner had thought a year would be enough to cure him, but things had gone against his wishes. In the end, he had absurdly been sent to the Death Squad Camp.

Now that he occupied this body, then did that mean he also...

Jiang Bei's heart tightened. He immediately checked, only to discover that with the beauty lying in his arms, his desire was frighteningly intense. The longing that the original owner had sealed away in despair now felt incomparably real and blazing!

Why was he fine?

"So that's how it is!"

After thinking it over, Jiang Bei immediately understood the reason. No folk remedy could compare to strengthening one's physique and improving one's physical condition!

He had now entered the ranks of Martial Dao, and he had surged forward like a soaring song, breaking straight through to Eighth Rank Minor Training. His physical condition had improved enormously.

That particular problem had naturally been solved with ease!

"Foolish girl... I have never despised you."

Jiang Bei held Yu Rou tightly in his arms, only then realizing that she had already backed him to the edge of the bed.

He suddenly exerted force, his strong arms flipping the soft, powerless body in his embrace over in one motion. Seizing the initiative, he pressed her down onto the bed.

That alluring orchid fragrance flooded his nostrils at once, making his chest heave fiercely.

Just as he was about to tear open that obstructive, wet, thin restraint, and Yu Rou shyly and obediently closed her eyes—

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The flimsy wooden door of the barracks was suddenly pounded.

"Jiang Bei, open up! I know you're in there!"

Jiang Bei and Yu Rou both froze awkwardly. They looked at each other, then laughed at the same time.

Jiang Bei hurriedly got up.

Yu Rou also hastily put on another layer of clothing.

"I'll go see who it is."

Jiang Bei said softly.

"Mm!"

Yu Rou nodded repeatedly.

Jiang Bei hung the Horizontal Saber at his waist, opened the wooden door, and walked out.

Only then did he see a man outside, probably in his twenties or thirties.

"Jiang Bei! Brother, you really came back!"

The man excitedly pulled Jiang Bei into a fierce embrace.

"Enough! You're about to squeeze me into a meat patty!"

Jiang Bei hurriedly broke free from the man's arms.

This man was Guo Xiu Yong, the original owner's childhood friend. They were from the same hometown and had played together since they were young. Later, they had enlisted together and been assigned to the Ren-Rank Camp. They had survived countless life-and-death battles side by side, their bond long since one forged in blood.

"I heard someone say they saw you just now. I thought they were joking, but you really came back! It's only been a little over a month! Damn, you really did it! Have you entered the ranks already? Come on, tell me!"

Guo Xiu Yong said excitedly.

"Mm, I've entered the ranks already."

Jiang Bei nodded.

"Good! I knew you could do it!"

Guo Xiu Yong excitedly patted Jiang Bei's arm, then asked, "Now that you're back, have you reported to the Battalion Commander yet?"

"Not yet."

"Come on, I'll take you there now. The Battalion Commander just finished up, so he should have time!"

Guo Xiu Yong grabbed him and started to leave.

"Alright! I'll tell Xiao Rou first."

Jiang Bei turned and went back into the barracks to explain things to Yu Rou, then left with Guo Xiu Yong.

On the way, Jiang Bei noticed that Guo Xiu Yong was walking with a slight limp and immediately asked, "What happened to your leg?"

"I got a minor injury during a mission a few days ago. It's nothing serious."

Guo Xiu Yong smiled and waved it off.

Jiang Bei did not ask further. The two soon arrived at a spacious tent.

This was the station of their Third Battalion. Battalion Commander Xu Qi sat in the seat of honor, studying a map with a solemn expression.

There were more than ten others in the tent, including Squad Leaders, Platoon Leaders, and ordinary soldiers.

"Battalion Commander, I'm back."

Jiang Bei cupped his hands toward Xu Qi in salute, immediately drawing everyone's attention.

But when they saw Jiang Bei dressed as an ordinary soldier, they withdrew their gazes again.

Xu Qi raised his head and set down the map, a faint smile softening his face. "Jiang Bei, I heard about what happened to you. To be transferred back from the Death Squad Camp in just over a month is truly rare. I assume you've entered the ranks already?"

"Only a little over a month?"

Some of the people in the tent did not know Jiang Bei. When they heard he had returned from the Death Squad Camp, they had initially looked down on him.

But they had not expected him to return in only a little over a month. They put away their contempt and secretly sized Jiang Bei up.

"Yes, I've entered the ranks already."

Jiang Bei nodded in reply.

"Excellent. Our Third Battalion suffered heavy losses during the last mission, and now the Colonel has assigned us another difficult task. You've returned at just the right time. Come with us."

Xu Qi said.

"A mission?"

Jiang Bei's expression shifted.

He truly needed missions to increase his strength and earn silver, but from Xu Qi's tone, this mission did not seem simple.

But now that the Battalion Commander had spoken, it was not something he could refuse simply because he wished to.

He immediately cupped his hands and answered, "Yes!"

"Go back and prepare. You'll depart with us at noon tomorrow."

Xu Qi instructed.

Jiang Bei nodded and took his leave. Just as he was about to walk out of the tent, he suddenly sensed an unfriendly gaze.

He turned his head and saw a man in the corner staring at him coldly, jealousy and chill surging in his eyes.

The man's chest was wrapped in bandages, as though he had been injured.

After leaving the tent, Jiang Bei asked Guo Xiu Yong beside him, "What happened to Wang Teng?"

"Like me, he was injured during the last mission."

Guo Xiu Yong explained.

Jiang Bei nodded at that.

From the memories, he knew that Wang Teng was a Platoon Leader of their Third Battalion. He had entered the ranks many years ago and was likely already at Ninth Rank Great Training.

Jiang Bei was no stranger to that jealous look.

Wang Teng was a lustful man. Back when the original owner had been assigned Yu Rou, Wang Teng had been deeply jealous and had always wanted to have her.

Later, he had even come to harass her time and again, clashing with the original owner several times. The original owner had suffered quite a bit because of it.

Judging from that look just now, he had likely still not given up.

But Jiang Bei was no longer the Jiang Bei of before.

If Wang Teng still dared to entertain any ideas, Jiang Bei would not mind making that beast pay a painful price!

"Speaking of Wang Teng, Jiang Bei, actually... sigh, never mind. It's nothing!"

Guo Xiu Yong swallowed the words that had reached his lips.

"What is it? Stopping halfway through is no fun."

Jiang Bei's expression shifted as he pressed him.

"It's nothing, it's nothing!"

Guo Xiu Yong hurriedly waved his hands, then said, "With this injury to my leg, I'm afraid I can't go on tomorrow's mission with you. But the mission is quite dangerous, and you've only just returned, so you don't understand the situation yet. Let me explain it to you properly."

Jiang Bei considered it, then nodded. "Mm, alright. I'll trouble you, then."