Ling Zhang’s arrival caused a commotion in the military encampment. After Ling Zhang and Yuwen Tong went into the main tent, the commotion gradually subsided.

The security around the main tent was very tight, and the atmosphere in this area was even more serious than it was outside.

“Marshal, the welcome reception is ready.”

“Okay. Good job.”

The location for the welcome reception is a tent next to the main tent. What with the limited space, arrangements were made for Wang Dashan and the other twenty-three bodyguards as well as the ten guards from the Millennium Pavilion to take seats in another tent which was a certain distance away from the main tent. Wang Dashan and the others, who had a sense of propriety and knew their place, had stopped at the periphery of their own accord instead of following Ling Zhang to the main tent.

Sitting in the main tent were eight people: Ling Zhang, Yuwen Tong, Ling Zhaowu, Jiang Xi and four leading generals, including Shao Feng, the general who used to be in charge of the defense of Youzhou.

“Childe Ling, our supplies of food are limited, so these dishes are probably nothing compared to what they have in the capital city. I’m sorry you have to put up with this,” said Shao Feng.

“Not at all, General Shao. I’m just a common man, the same as any of the soldiers guarding this city. It doesn’t matter what we have on the table. What matters is that we’re now all sitting here around the same table,” observed Ling Zhang.

“I told you you overthought it, Lao Shao. Childe Ling is nothing like any of those rich boys,” said Jiang Xi.

Ling Zhang gave a smile. These people were tactfully sounding him out, and they were doing it in such a natural and frank way that he was unable to take a dislike for them.

Although it was wartime, there was no sign of nervousness or unease in the encampment. In everybody’s eyes was only staunchness.

The welcome reception was quite simple. Considering Ling Zhang and Ling Zhaowu had just finished a long journey, the couple of generals took their leave after only a short time.

Yuwen Tong, Jiang Xi, Ling Zhang and Ling Zhaowu were the only ones left in the tent.

“The situation in the capital city has stabilized. Fang Quan and some others are in custody. We expect you to decide what to do with them after you go back there. As for Cangzhou, the General Zhongwu (AKA the General of Loyalty and Valor) is trying his best to suppress the rebellion. The garrison of Jiangzhou has been forced into retreating to Jiangzhou by the garrison of Shengzhou, and the commander of Jiangzhou garrison has died. Everything is under control for the moment. We’re all waiting for this war to be over,” said Ling Zhang.

Yuwen Tong said, “The allied forces of the Wan Kingdom and the Luohai Kingdom have lost several battles in a row and suffered heavy casualties. They’re losing momentum and wavering in their determination. They won’t be able to last long, and the next time they attack, they’ll go all out.”

“Presently we’re making preparations for the oncoming final battle,” said Jiang Xi.

Ling Zhang knew that he had limited knowledge in this regard, and he didn’t dare make any ungrounded remarks before getting more acquainted with the lay of the land, so he just told them about that spy of the Luohai Kingdom that he’d caught during the journey.

“Right now, Chief He is guarded by Wang Dashan and the others. I’ll leave it up to you to decide whether to kill him or release him.”

Jiang Xi clapped his hands. “This is terrific. Let me deal with it, Marshal.”

Yuwen Tong looked at Ling Zhang, who was just about to speak when Ling Zhaowu rose to his feet and said, “I’ll go with you, General. I’m a little tired and I’d appreciate it if you would find me a bed.”

“Sure. This way, please,” said Jiang Xi immediately.

After Ling Zhaowu and Jiang Xi left, Yuwen Tong and Ling Zhang were the only ones left in the tent.

Ling Zhang looked at him. “I brought a lot of people here. Do you have enough space to accommodate all of us?”

Yuwen Tong said, “Jiang Xi will handle it. Pitching another couple of tents shouldn’t be too much trouble.”

Ling Zhang said, “Where am I sleeping?”

Yuwen Tong put his arm around Ling Zhang and swept him into his embrace. Looking him in the face, he said, “You’re on my turf now. Where else do you think I’ll let you sleep?”

After saying this, he gave Ling Zhang a kiss. Eyes going ardent, he was just about to continue kissing him when Ling Zhang hastily stopped him. “Wait a moment. I need to take a bath first.”

Yuwen Tong said, “I don’t mind that.”

Ling Zhang gave him a dirty look. “I do.”

Seeing Yuwen Tong still refused to let go, he patted Yuwen Tong. “Now get your hands off me and take me where I can have a bath.”

Yuwen Tong cast a deep look at him, heaved a resigned sigh, reluctantly gave his cheek a neither hard nor light nibble, and then stood up, raising Ling Zhang to his feet, and led him towards the door of the tent.

Realizing that there were guards in the doorway, Ling Zhang tried to free his hand from Yuwen Tong’s grip, but Yuwen Tong didn’t let him. “You don’t let me kiss you, and you don’t even let me hold your hand. You’re actually killing me.”

Ling Zhang, “…”

“Your soldiers are standing right outside. What will they think of us if they see us like this?”

Yuwen Tong said, “Nothing. What’s wrong with us holding each other’s hands? Who would possibly have a problem with that?”

Saying this, Yuwen Tong forcibly drew Ling Zhang out of the tent. The soldiers on guard duty in the doorway didn’t even glance at them.

Ling Zhang sneaked a look at the soldiers and felt a sense of relief as he saw that they were still impassive.

But in fact, after he and Yuwen Tong walked far away, the two soldiers guarding the tent exchanged knowing glances and secretly winked at each other.

Yuwen Tong brought Ling Zhang to the main tent which was the place he lived in. It was very roomy. The front of it was a meeting room with all necessities available: a table, some chairs, a sand table, maps, etc. Behind the meeting room was a bedroom, which was separated from the meeting room. The bedroom was quite spacious, too, with a bed, a desk, some chairs, a couple of chests, a long-legged teapoy and some other homeware in it. Ling Zhang’s traveling bags which contained his clothes and other stuff had been moved into this tent and neatly placed on top of the chests.

“Grab your change of clothes. We’ll go and have a bath,” said Yuwen Tong.

Walking towards his baggage to unpack, Ling Zhang asked, “Where are we going?”

Yuwen Tong answered, “Jiang Xi and some others specially pitched a tent beside this one in the knowledge that you were coming and might be unaccustomed to living in a military encampment. It’s well-equipped with bathroom ware all of which are from downtown.”

Ling Zhang slightly paused and then pivoted around to look at him. “Is this appropriate? Previously you didn’t have a tent like this, did you? I’m afraid you’re giving me too much special treatment and–”

Yuwen Tong smiled, “It’s okay. They would’ve built a bathing pool for you had I not stopped them. Just take it as a gesture of goodwill and enjoy it.”

Ling Zhang thought for a while and said, “Since they’ve already done it, I could only accept it. Tomorrow I’ll express my gratitude to them.”

It was mainly because Ling Zhang felt that he was not a serviceman and wouldn’t stay here for long, and it would be somewhat weird if people made a fuss over him. He preferred that everything went as normal, because in that case he and everybody else would feel relaxed, and it was unnecessary to have anybody go to much trouble on his account. If he did that, people might regard him as a pretentious person.

The two of them took their changes of clothes, walked out of the main tent and, as expected, saw a relatively small tent on the side. It was just smaller than the tents around it, of course. When they walked inside, they found that it was pretty roomy, and all necessary bathroom ware was available. There was a big bathing barrel which was filled with clean water.

During the bath, Yuwen Tong was staring at Ling Zhang all the time, his eyes ablaze with ill-concealed desire.

Ling Zhang said resignedly, “Can you not gaze at me like that?”

Yuwen Tong replied, “Gaze back at me then.”

Ling Zhang blushed. He didn’t dare gaze at Yuwen Tong for fear that he might fall prey to the temptation. “Cut the nonsense. Even if I’m to gaze at you, I won’t do it here.”

This tent was small and people outside could easily heard the sounds from within. If they did something here and anybody heard the embarrassing sounds, it would be such a disgrace!

Having come to realize this, Ling Zhang started bathing faster. Seeing this, Yuwen Tong also did the same thing. Soon the two of them finished their baths, dried themselves and put on clean clothes. Yuwen Tong walked up to Ling Zhang and used a dry towel to help dry his hair, utilizing his internal energy to make it dry faster. Then he ran his fingers through his hair, caressing it gently. The touch of the smooth, soft, jet black hair sliding through his fingers aroused him even further.

“I can’t hold it any longer. Let’s go back right away.” Yuwen Tong’s low and deep voice was husky with longing, his throat burning so badly as though there were a flame there.

Ling Zhang felt hot, his heart racing faster and faster, his fingers interlocked with Yuwen Tong’s. Yuwen Tong held his hand to his lips and kissed it, and then drew him out of the tent and towards the main tent. Ling Zhang’s long hair, which was loose, fluttered in the night breeze after they walked out of the tent. The cool breeze brought away some of his excess body heat, but he felt the grip on his hand tighten.

On entering the main tent, they made a beeline for the bedroom, in which Yuwen Tong explained through action what he’d meant by the words “I can’t hold it any longer.”

…

Ling Zhang slept very late due to the many romantic erotic hours. What with this and the long weary journey and the familiar embrace he slept in, he predictably overslept the next morning.

As he opened his eyes and saw the bright daylight, the sight of the strange surroundings instantly put him on alert and he abruptly sat up from the bed, gave a pained gasp and was almost reduced to lying back onto the bed.

“You woke up.” Yuwen Tong walked in, fully dressed, a beam on his face, a tray of food in his hand. He put the tray down onto the table, stepped up to the bedside and said, “Are you feeling uncomfortable? Sorry, I didn’t bring that kind of ointment here because I never expected you to come, so I went to an army physician and got an anti-inflammatory ointment. Come, let me apply it to you.”

Eyes widening incredulously, Ling Zhang looked at him and asked, “You went to an army physician to get an ointment?”

Yuwen Tong was confused about the quizzical look on his face. “Yeah,” he replied.

Ling Zhang’s countenance changed. “Did you tell him what you needed it for?”

Yuwen Tong caught on. “I didn’t. Of course I didn’t.”

It was after hearing this that Ling Zhang’s face softened somewhat, but then he came to realize that as long as that army physician was not a fool, he would definitely have guessed why Yuwen Tong had asked him for an anti-inflammatory ointment at this point in time. Color flooded his face and he doubted he’d ever be able to summon the courage to walk out of this tent and show his face.

Yuwen Tong was still trying to comfort him. “You may rest assured that that physician wouldn’t ask any questions or disclose it to anybody.”

Didn’t this make it more certain that the army physician knew what he needed this ointment for? Ling Zhang lay prone back onto the bed, buried his face in the pillow and wailed, “You idiot! You made me an utter disgrace!”

Though being told off, Yuwen Tong was smiling like a retard. Sitting on the bed, he leaned over, slumped against Ling Zhang. “It’s okay. That physician is the only one aware of this matter, and I guarantee you he won’t breathe a word of it to anybody. If it really bothers you so much, you can just avoid the medic.”

Ling Zhang didn’t want to speak with Yuwen Tong. Right now he wished he could shrink himself and hide in a crack in the ground.

Yuwen Tong removed the thin quilt, intending to help him take off his pants. Ling Zhang quickly grabbed his waistband and demanded, “What are you doing?!”

“I just want to help apply the ointment.” Yuwen Tong sounded quite innocent.

Ling Zhang clenched his teeth. “I’ll do it myself!”

Yuwen Tong shook his head. “No. Look, last night…” He gave an unnatural cough and continued, “I was a little… out of control. I wouldn’t be able to set my mind at ease unless I see it with my own eyes and personally administer the ointment to you.”