The others in the tent spotted Ling Zhang and rose to their feet with the intention to pay their respects to him but were spared the formalities by Ling Zhang. At the sight of Yuwen Jin's pallid face, Ling Zhang came to know that although the injury was not severe, Yuwen Jin was indeed suffering a lot from it, so he consoled Yuwen Jin, "Rest well and nurse yourself back to health. I brought you a bottle of high-quality vulnerary. It'll quicken the healing process. If you expect to fight another battle, you must not hop around in the next few days."

While saying this, Ling Zhang handed a porcelain phial to the army physician, who took it, removed the stopper, sniffed at it and with that his eyes brightened. "This is good stuff! W–Was it Mr. Mu who prepared this?"

Ling Zhang replied with an inclination of the head, "Yeah."

The army physician immediately tucked the phial into his bosom, so excited his eyes were narrowing for smiling.

"What do you think you are doing? Use it on my arm already! Don't hide it!"

On hearing this, the army physician said, "This is not a styptic drug. I'll stop the bleeding for you first and use this drug on your wound when it's time to change your dressing. So take it easy. I won't deprive you of the opportunity to benefit from this drug, Okay?"

Yuwen Jin was rendered speechless by the physician's words, strongly feeling that he deserved better than that.

Ling Zhang, inwardly snickering, patted Yuwen Jin's shoulder and said bracingly, "Don't worry. Our physicians are consummate. I'm sure you'll make a full recovery from this injury."

"Thank you for your compliment, Your Highness," said the army physician.

Yuwen Jin twisted his head aside, inwardly rolled his eyes upwards but knew better than to retort in the knowledge that he still relied on this geriatric to treat his wound.

...

Having checked that Yuwen Jin's main arteries and bones were fine, and that it would take only a couple of days' rest for him to recover, Ling Zhang took his leave after giving the vulnerary to the physician.

Mr. Mu examined the cut in his chest and, seeing that it was healing well, changed his dressing and bandaged it again.

The wound had just been dressed when Yuwen Tong returned. "Why did you redress the wound? It reopened?" he asked.

"No. I just changed the dressing," answered Mr. Mu calmly.

"It really didn't reopen. Mr. Mu checked it and then changed the dressing and bandaged it again. What about you? Why are you back so soon? Everything's done?" Ling Zhang hastened to ask Yuwen Tong in an attempt to change the topic, fearing that he might overthink the situation.

Yuwen Tong leaned his head closer and took a look. Having checked that Ling Zhang was indeed fine, he said, "Yeah. I've got the information I need about the enemy's defenses and battle plans, so I told them to regroup our troops, reward them with good food and wine and see to it that they rest well tonight. We'll have another meeting tomorrow."

Ling Zhang nodded, feeling that the soldiers had indeed had a tough day and could use a good rest.

After a full night's sleep, all the soldiers were refreshed. Early in the morning, He Xiao, Yuwen Jin and the couple of newly appointed officers started drilling them. Yuwen Jin, wearing splints on his arm which was now hanging from his neck, was in no fit state to fight for the moment, so he took on the duty of inspecting the encampment.

Ling Zhang, having finished his morning meditation, walked out of his tent and caught sight of Yuwen Jin, who was walking around on a height in the distance, supervising his men drilling.

Ling Zhang turned his head and said to Yuwen Tong who had come out of the tent with him, "It seems he couldn't bear to sit idly for a single moment."

Yuwen Tong glanced in that direction and said, "Let him be. It's not like he's severely wounded."

In Yuwen Tong's eyes, Yuwen Jin's injury was indeed nothing, and it was unnecessary to regard Yuwen Jin as someone grievously wounded.

And he subconsciously ignored how nervous he had been about the minor cuts of Ling Zhang's.

Ling Zhang's chest and wrist were both injured. In the past few days – ever since Ling Zhang had rendezvoused with him, to be precise – the two of them had never made out.

Yuwen Tong was worried about the cuts in Ling Zhang's chest and wrist, and Ling Zhang was also worried about the wound in Yuwen Tong's chest. Yuwen Tong's constitution was strong, so the cut in his chest had healed quickly, and even the scab was about to peel. It had been itching for a couple of days, and Ling Zhang from time to time had to remind him not to scratch it.

"Mr. Mu has antipruritic drug. I'll ask him if it's okay to administer it to your wound to help with the itch," said Ling Zhang.

"I'll go with you," said Yuwen Tong.

The two of them went to Mr. Mu's tent. After they stated their intentions, Mr. Mu gave them a porcelain phial, a very small one.

"Use it sparingly. A tiny amount of it will do. You'll also be needing it after your cuts heal," Mr. Mu said to Ling Zhang.

Ling Zhang bobbed his head, took the porcelain phial, returned to their own tent with Yuwen Tong and then told Yuwen Tong to undress so that he could administer the drug to his wound.

Yuwen Tong thought for a moment and then said, "I'll do it myself."

Ling Zhang looked surprisedly at him. "Why? It'll be easier if I do it for you. Hurry. Take off your clothes."

Yuwen Tong took a deep breath and looked at him, the expression in his eyes abruptly becoming longing. "It's been a long while since the last time we made out. I might lose control of myself if you do it for me."

Ling Zhang, "..."

He would be merely administering a drug to his wound. Why was Yuwen Tong making it sound like something erotic?!

"You'll have to tough it out!" he said through gritted teeth.

Yuwen Tong gave a chuckle and then started unclothing himself.

Ling Zhang had originally felt that it was no big deal, but what with those words of Yuwen Tong's, looking at Yuwen Tong taking off his clothes, he couldn't help but picture some romantic scenes, a warm flush spreading over his cheeks in spite of himself. And then, as he noticed that Yuwen Tong was disrobing rather slowly, he involuntarily urged irritably, "Hurry up!"

Yuwen Tong had observed the faint blush on his face and the flickering look in his eyes, feeling feverishly aroused. After stripping, he said, "I'm ready."

Ling Zhang looked at the scar on his chest and finally managed to dismiss some of those images from his mind. He opened the porcelain phial, carefully got a small amount of the drug out of it by dipping his finger into it, lightly pressed it to a spot beside the scar and then carefully spread it over the scab.

A cool and comfortable sensation instantaneously dispelled the various pictures in Yuwen Tong's head, cooling him down somewhat.

However, Ling Zhang, gingerly applying the ointment to the scar on his chest with his white-skinned fingertip, looked as though he were silently seducing him. The very sight of it turned Yuwen Tong on, not to mention the touch of Ling Zhang's finger.

Yuwen Tong suddenly put his arms around Ling Zhang's waist, sat him on to his lap, lowered his head and kissed Ling Zhang.

Ling Zhang, who was carefully applying the ointment, was caught unawares. When Yuwen Tong kissed him, he hastened to move the phial aside for fear of accidentally breaking it. At the same time, he responded to Yuwen Tong's action. The two of them were very familiar with each other's bodies, especially so when they were kissing. They had an intimate knowledge of how to kiss their lovers properly, and how to better turn their lovers on. Their movements were almost subconscious, their body temperatures rising, their breathing growing heavier, their chests heaving more and more frequently, saliva oozing from the corners of their mouths, which in turn further aroused them.

Ling Zhang exhaled deeply. When in an intimate moment like this, both Yuwen Tong and Ling Zhang felt as though time were going significantly slower or faster than usual. When they came to themselves, they found themselves panting heavily. It struck Ling Zhang that his lips were numb and might even be swollen. Not until he could barely hold the porcelain phial steady did he slightly recover himself. "Be careful not to hug me too tight. I still have the drug in my hand ... "

After hearing this, Yuwen Tong slackened his embrace but was still keeping Ling Zhang in his arms. He took the phial from Ling Zhang's hand, put it down on to the table beside them, and then resumed cuddling Ling Zhang. Their foreheads against each other, they could feel one another's breath, both their body temperatures different than normal. There were fine beads of tear clinging to the corners of Ling Zhang's eyes. Were it not for their injuries, he would have put his arms around Yuwen Tong's neck again and continued. Unfortunately for him, that was not an option. His eyes were faintly red from the effort of restraining himself. He stared at Yuwen Tong with an intent look in his eyes like a little wild beast. He was filled with desire. He wanted it but had to resist the temptation, which was why he felt upset.

Yuwen Tong looked back at him, leaned over, kissed his eye and said, "Close your eyes."

Ling Zhang obediently did what he was asked.

Yuwen Tong felt a sense of relief. He would lose control of himself if Ling Zhang kept looking at him like that. It was so torturous.

He kissed Ling Zhang's eyes for a while, and then the two of them quietly cuddled in an effort to help each other calm down.

"I want so badly to go back to the capital city, where we could do anything we feel like doing," said Ling Zhang languidly after recovering himself. "I miss the kids."

Yuwen Tong gently stroked Ling Zhang's back to console him. "Your father and grandfather have been taking care of them. And there are also my great-uncle's family and those servants, so there's no need to concern yourself."

But the company of parents was irreplaceable. Besides, Ling Zhang missed his children very much. This separation had lasted a long time. It was almost as long as his stay in the Luohai Kingdom, and there was still a lot of days before he could return home to see the children.

"I'm sure Crescent has been crying every night," said Ling Zhang.

At the mention of his adopted daughter, an uncharacteristically tender expression appeared in Yuwen Tong's eyes. Crescent's eyes, which looked the same as Ling Zhang's, had frequently made him wonder whether or not Ling Zhang had been as naughty and adorable as Crescent was when he had been a little boy. Therefore, at the thought of Crescent piteously crying for parents with tearful eyes, Yuwen Tong's heart ached as though he were seeing a young version of Ling Zhang crying for parents.

"Alas. Let's drop this. Crescent is almost three. She's staying in the Ling Mansion where there are a lot of middle-aged handmaids, and my aunt is there as well. I think she probably could barely remember us, so she certainly wouldn't cry for us." Ling Zhang gave a little cough and then added, "Don't overthink it." Before leaving the capital city, he had told Yuwen Tong not to worry about anything in the capital city, but now he himself had failed to keep from missing his children.

Caressing Ling Zhang's back, Yuwen Tong said, "Um. She still has his brothers, and there are a lot of relatives keeping her company, so she'll be fine. You, on the other hand, need to be careful not to get hurt again lest the children be worried about you."

Ling Zhang gave a smile, twisted his head aside and planted a kiss on Yuwen Tong's cheek. "They don't know, and we should make sure they never find out. Rest assured, for your sake I'll stay safe and never get wounded again."

Yuwen Tong, whose heart was melted by the kiss and the words, carefully edged Ling Zhang slightly deeper into his embrace and hugged him tighter.

Ling Zhang said, "Put me down. Is your leg not tired?"

He had been sitting on Yuwen Tong's lap for quite some time.

Yuwen Tong didn't slacken his embrace. "I'd like this hug to last a little while longer. My leg won't be tired even if you sit on my lap for a whole day."

Eyes narrowing for smiling, Ling Zhang rearranged Yuwen Tong's robes with his uninjured hand, gave him a kiss and then said, "But the morning drill is almost over, and the generals will soon come. It's about time we got something to eat. You're supposed to meet them in a few moments."

Yuwen Tong gave an "Um" of agreement. It was a while before he reluctantly let go, allowing Ling Zhang to rise to his feet and get out of his embrace.

RAT-TAT –

It was not fully light yet, and the mountain pass in front of Jifang City was still cloaked in mist when the ground started quaking.

An experienced general immediately caught on to what was happening. "ENEMIES CLOSING IN! GET READY TO FIGHT–!"

The army of the Great Wen arrived before daybreak, and this time around they were in appreciably larger numbers than they had been during the last offensive. The quake of the ground alone threw the Wan soldiers into panic.

However, the mountain pass was still shrouded in thick fog, and none of the sentries on watchtowers could get a clear view of the enemies. They only had a feeling that there was a sea of them outside the mountain pass!

TOOT – TOOT –

Soon a bulge blared out.

The garrison had mustered already when Chen Jing heard the bugle call, an ugly look instantly appearing on his face. They had not even bothered to send a soldier to inform him!

When he arrived at the ramparts with all haste, the commander of the garrison was already there, flanked by his lieutenants and advisers. Face darkening, he was just about to dress them down when he observed that the thick mist outside the mountain pass still had not dispersed. It was fully light, and theoretically the fog should have lifted. Why was it still so hazy?

Chen Jing knitted his brows, gazing fixedly out of the mountain pass.

As the large army of the Great Wen approached, the Wan soldiers guarding the mountain pass began to have difficulty breathing.

Though aware that this mountain pass was impregnable, troops of the Wan garrison, faced with such a formidable army of the Great Wen, still felt fear sweeping over them in waves in spite of themselves.

There had been once a time when the Wan Kingdom had almost subjugated the Great Yue; if Yuwen Tong's grandfather had not managed to have his men withstand the attack of the Wan army, if Yuwen Tong, an up-and-coming young general, had not driven the Wan army out of the Great Yue with unstoppable momentum, the Wan cavalry would long since have flattened the Great Yue and subjected it to the Wan Kingdom's rule, and the Great Wen would not have been founded.

Unfortunately for them, the Yuwen family was destined to be a mortal enemy of the Wan Kingdom. First there had been Yuwen Tong's grandfather, and then there was Yuwen Tong. The Wan Kingdom had not only failed to annex that richly endowed country but also been losing one battle after another to Yuwen Tong's army. The shoe was now on the other foot. In a rivalry for world supremacy, the competitors either won or died. In that year the Wan Kingdom had let the opportunity slip away, and now they were facing the danger of being annexed.

But it was no good dwelling on these, for the enemies were almost in sight.

"The weather is not very favorable to us," commented the commander of the garrison stationed in Jifang City, a frown on his face.

"This is so weird. How come the mist still hasn't lifted?"

All officers of the garrison were somewhat bewildered by the unusual weather conditions.

After about half an hour, the fog veiling the mountain pass finally cleared, and the soldiers could now see the situation outside distinctly. All of them gasped in alarm at the sight of the enemy.

There were too many of them ...

The Great Wen actually had an army of this scale?!

The sea of enemy troops stretched as far as the eye could see and the total number of them seemed to be thrice what it had been the last time they had attacked.

"The North-Western Army led by Jiang Ke and Jiang Xi has joined forces with Yuwen Tong's army, which is why Yuwen Tong has considerably more men under his command."

The garrison commander had an apprehensive look on his face. Only yesterday, when the army of the Great Wen had been attacking this mountain pass, he had had a disagreement with Chen Jing, accusing him of exaggerating the enemy's strength and disparaging their own. Was he going to suffer a defeat on this day which would surely feel like a slap across his face?

No. He couldn't afford to let that happen. The mountain pass of Jifang City must not fall. He would end up dead if it was taken by the enemy.

The garrison commander clenched his teeth, his eyes raking Yuwen Tong's army advancing towards the mountain pass. The army had finished mustering before the mist dispersed. Though in significantly larger numbers, they were in the same formation as they had been yesterday. The beat of war drums came from the opposite side and with that the attacks began.

RAT-TAT –

"Eek? Why are they attacking the same way they did yesterday?" said an officer beside the garrison commander in an astonished tone of voice, his face etched with bemusement.

The garrison commander perked up, cocked an eye at the enemies and found that they were indeed attacking exactly the same way they had done the day before. It seemed that their battle plans had not changed at all.

At the sight of this, he was numbly surprised at first, but then he was overjoyed and gave two derisive laughs. "People keep saying Yuwen Tong is an unequaled strategist, but now it seems he's at the end of his rope. If this is how he plans to take our mountain pass, none of his men will make it out of the battlefield alive."

"That's true. Is Yuwen Tong soft in the head? Yesterday his strategy didn't work, but today he's doing it all over again. He must've exhausted his bag of tricks."

"They call him the God of War, but it seems he's unworthy of his reputation. Ha-ha ... Lord Chen suggested His Majesty dispatch the northern garrisons south, but the way I see it, that's totally unnecessary."

Chen Jing looked coldly at them. He had been a high-ranking officer for many years, and the commanding air he emanated was far more intimidating than that of any of those people, all of whom immediately shut their mouths embarrassedly.

"Do not underestimate him. Yuwen Tong's reputation is by no means unearned. I'm sure he's doing this for a reason."

After Chen Jing said this, a couple of officers inwardly rolled their eyes upwards, taking no heed of his words whatsoever.

Chen Jing, who sensed their disregard for him, was naturally consumed with anger.

At this time, the army of the Great Wen, following the same battle plan they had adopted yesterday, reached the foot of the mountain pass. The Wan soldiers standing guard immediately tensed up and the first salvo of arrows were fired.

...

Ling Zhang was standing not far away from the ramparts of the mountain pass, but none of the Wan soldiers had spotted him. The Illusion Formation had been activated before the fog lifted.