When Yu Hai arrived, Zhai Le had just returned from inspecting the defenses. He hadn't yet stowed his armor in his Dantian. "When did Gui Long get back?"
Qu Country had split its forces in two, with each side supporting the other.
Unless something truly momentous had happened, Yu Hai wouldn't have left his post.
Yu Hai's expression was difficult to read. "I have news."
Seeing how serious he looked, Zhai Le couldn't help joking, "Why so solemn? Don't tell me our ally went straight for the heart of the enemy, crushed the Central Allied Army, and is about to turn its blades on us next?"
"At a time like this, you're still fooling around?" Yu Hai snapped. "If that were really happening, would you still be able to laugh?"
Zhai Le took off his martial armor, freeing his hands and feet.
It was a muggy, sweltering month in the southeast, and even the occasional breeze carried dry heat. Martial qi protected him from the cold and heat, but it couldn't keep the warmth trapped beneath his armor from building up. Though armor formed from martial qi didn't drain the wearer's strength, it was stifling, and after a while it could even start to smell sour.
Whenever he had the chance, he took it off to air out. He was terrified the stench would soak into him.
Shoving a rice ball into his mouth, he grinned. "Why wouldn't I be able to laugh? There's no shame in losing to her."
If he lost to anyone else, Zhai Le would die with his eyes open. Even in the underworld, he'd worry that the people of Qu Country would be mistreated. But if he lost to Shen Youli, he'd worry instead that the common folk of Qu Country would "mistreat" her. The