It Would Be Nice to Stay Like This, Wouldn't It?

Xiao Ke'er was waiting when she saw Ye Fan return with a hoe. Puzzled, she asked, "Brother Fan, what did you bring that for?"

"I ran into your eldest brother! He's eating at my house," Ye Fan said, at a loss for words.

"Oh no! I was so busy bringing him out that I forgot to cook!!!"

"Don't worry about him. Your brother won't starve, and Uncle Xiao's meal has already been sent over. They've probably finished eating by now."

"Hehe, that's good. Living next door to Uncle and Auntie Ye really is nice!"

"Come on, let's go for a stroll!"

Xiao Ke'er obediently followed behind him. Ye Fan remembered to toss the big hoe into the herb garden.

Wuling City

"Commander Cao, judging by the time, Commander Zha should reach Qixia Mountain in a few days. How should we deploy our troops?"

"There's no rush. Has there been any movement at Cloud Mountain Fortress lately?"

"For the past few days, our scouts have kept Cloud Mountain Fortress under constant observation, but there's been no movement. Chen Haoran has 150,000 troops under his command, and all they do each day is drill and cook. There's no sign he intends to march out. I suspect he's laying a smokescreen."

"Heh, Commander Wan, you still don't understand Yan Fengxiao. That man values fame and merit above all else. If he really sent Chen Haoran to lead troops against our Wuling City, he wouldn't be Yan Fengxiao. Even knowing he was wrong, he wouldn't easily seek reinforcements, not even if he fought down to his last soldier."

"Haha, Commander Cao, with a great general like that, the Wu Kingdom is in peril!"

"Commander Wan, keep sending the army to contend with Yan Fengxiao these next few days, but do not leave the city. You may show him a little weakness and make him think there's an opening to exploit. Keep him occupied like that for a few more days. Once Commander Zha joins forces with Commander Lu Guangtai, Chen Haoran will surely lead troops to reinforce them. That will be the time for our army to swallow Yan Fengxiao whole!"

"Yes, Grand Commander!" Wan Que rose and accepted his orders.

"All right, go make your rounds. Take extra precautions at the Ever-Normal Granary!"

"This subordinate obeys!" Wan Que turned and left the city lord's residence.

Cloud Mountain Fortress

"Brother Chen, are we really going to sit here and eat our stores while we wait to die? General Yan marched out days ago, and he still hasn't broken through the enemy's defenses. We're running short of provisions!"

"Brother Sima, what can I do? You and I have gone together to see General Yan these past few days, and we haven't even been able to meet him. Don't you know that? Or do you have another solution?"

"Alas, isn't it because there's nothing we can do? The army consumes an enormous amount every day, and the resupply of provisions still hasn't arrived. I don't even know what to write in the report we're supposed to submit to the Ministry of War. We can't very well write that our army is waiting for an opportunity!!!"

"Brother Sima, let's wait another two days. I keep feeling something big is going to happen."

"Alas, that's all we can do. General Yan is bringing ruin upon the country."

"Commander Zha, at this marching speed, we can reach Qixia City tomorrow."

"The army must not let its guard down. Qin Shan, send out the vanguard. The riders may rest, but the horses must not. They must reach Qixia Mountain before noon tomorrow and deliver the two grand commanders' letters to Commander Lu. The moment our army arrives will be the moment Guo Youshan is defeated!"

"At once!!!"

Two men emerged from the army and galloped off with the letters.

Two men and four horses vanished in a cloud of dust...

While Commander Zha led his troops to provide support, Guo Youshan finally led his army over Eastward-Looking Mountain.

"Haha, what the former great general Yan Wupi could do, I, Guo Youshan, can do as well. This little Eastward-Looking Mountain has finally been crossed by my army. Yan Fengxiao, I hope you don't fly into a rage when you hear this news. After all, too much anger harms the body. Haha!"

"Pass down my orders. The army will rest here, and tomorrow morning we'll storm the city and seize the stronghold. I'll show Yan Fengxiao who has the bearing of a great general."

By now, Guo Youshan's soldiers were already suffering terribly. The forced crossing of Eastward-Looking Mountain had left them utterly exhausted. When they heard they were making camp, they dropped to the ground, wailing and complaining bitterly.

"Brother Fan, everyone in the village is thinking about going out to make a living. What do you think?"

"Ke'er, I can't tell you yet. When the time comes, I'll tell you everything myself."

"Mm-hmm, I knew it. You're the best, Brother Fan. I believe in you."

The two walked on like that, with no particular destination.

Ye Fan was still pondering how to cultivate a vast herb garden from those few medicinal herbs. Now that the Inner World had the Spring of Life, and he had mastered the Water Spirit Art's cultivation method, growing a large herb garden in a short time didn't seem so difficult.

As the various sides vied for advantage, the Qian Kingdom had already laid a deadly trap and was just waiting for the Wu Kingdom to walk into it.

The Wu Kingdom's imperial capital

The Wu emperor sat on his dragon throne. "Ministry of War, have any reports arrived from the front?"

"Your Majesty, the veteran general Yan Fengxiao has sent a military report. Our army has advanced like a hot knife through bamboo, annihilating tens of thousands of Qian troops. The whole army is currently stationed outside Wuling City, seeking an opportunity to take it in one stroke."

The Wu emperor showed little reaction. "Have any reports come from General Guo or General Chen?"

"Your Majesty, there have been no reports from General Guo or General Chen as yet."

"Notify General Yan that the army must advance steadily and not rush for quick gains. He must guard against a surprise attack by the Qian Kingdom."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

"Once all three cities belong to our Wu Kingdom, I shall personally lead an expedition and wipe out the Qian Kingdom. Once it falls, the surrounding smaller kingdoms will surely bow their heads and submit. All the Eastern Continent will come under our Wu Kingdom's rule."

"Long live the Wu emperor!"

"Long live the Wu emperor!"

"Long live the Wu emperor!"

After taking Xiao Ke'er for a stroll, Ye Fan sat down with her by the river.

"Ke'er, do you miss the mountains?"

"Mm, a little. But as long as I can be with everyone, it doesn't really matter." Xiao Ke'er gently patted the surface of the water with her bare feet as she spoke softly.

Ye Fan said nothing more. He lay down on the grass, resting the back of his head on his arms.

Ke'er turned to look at him, then naturally bent down and gently brushed away the bits of grass scattered over his head.

Ye Fan looked at Ke'er, who was only a fist's breadth away. Waves of her fragrance washed over him as he felt her gently clear the grass from his head.

"It would be nice to spend a lifetime like this, wouldn't it?"

Ye Fan closed his eyes, savoring this moment of tenderness. The river gurgled by, a light breeze brushed over him, the one he loved was right beside him, and home was not far behind. It felt wonderful.

Once Ke'er had finished tidying him up, she sat quietly beside Ye Fan with her legs curled up and her arms around her knees. From time to time, she stole a glance at him with his eyes closed. Neither spoke; they simply sat there, quietly savoring the tenderness.

They didn't get up until sunlight fell over them both.

"It's too hot. Come on, Ke'er!" Ye Fan tilted his head up and squinted at the sun, its glare too bright for him to open his eyes.

Ke'er had also gotten up and was brushing the bits of grass off Ye Fan's back.

"Mm, Brother Fan, it's getting hot. Let's go home," Ke'er said as she helped brush him off.

Passing by the fields, they saw villagers at work. Ye Fan greeted them one after another, and Ke'er, following behind him, kept saying hello as well.

Of course, the two didn't forget the big hoe they'd left in the herb garden.

Cooking smoke rose once more. It was time to make lunch.