EHW Ch44

The deputy and his men arranged quarters for Gu Fangzhi in a nearby tent.

Pei Xin lifted the heavy flap with the tip of his riding whip and stepped inside.

He had already guessed it on his way there, these past few nights, Gu Fangzhi had been using his sorcery frequently, which must’ve meant he was traveling overnight from the capital.

After such a long and grueling journey, both Gu Fangzhi and Gu Yunchuan were covered in dust.

When Pei Xin entered, a young soldier had just brought over a basin of steaming water, its vapor thick like fog, for the two to wash up.

They had only just begun to wipe their faces when Pei Xin came in, and both men scrambled to their feet in a hurry.

“…Sir.”

Someone must’ve already warned them not to expose Pei Xin’s true identity.

Pei Xin gestured for everyone except the two brothers to leave.
“There’s no need for formality here. Sit.”

Pei Xin was indeed not the type of emperor who fussed over etiquette.

Gu Fangzhi knew this well and sat down with ease, while Gu Yunchuan, looking slightly awkward, only sat after giving Pei Xin a polite bow.

Pei Xin stood by the table and asked calmly,

“Teacher, what brings you all the way from the capital? Has something happened?”

Gu Fangzhi took two handkerchiefs from his sleeve, dipped them into the water, wrung them out, and handed one to his brother.

Pei Xin had thought Gu Fangzhi’s face already looked clean, but once the damp cloth brushed his skin, the already pale complexion turned even more translucent, and the tiny mole on his cheek seemed to stand out brighter against the clear skin.

Gu Fangzhi smiled.

“Came to celebrate your birthday. Happy birthday.”

—It really was a coincidence.
After days of rushing, he had managed to arrive just in time for Pei Xin’s birthday.

He hadn’t expected that, after all the elaborate plans made in the capital for the imperial birthday banquet, the words “Happy Birthday” would instead be spoken here, at the cold, desolate northern border.

Pei Xin froze.

The tassel on his whip swayed in a slow circle before he clicked his tongue.
“A birthday is nothing. What’s the real reason you came?”

Gu Fangzhi replied,

“It’s just that I— I heard some small rumors… that General Li Hao was replaced at the frontier… the new commander, I’ve heard of him before, and I couldn’t help but worry…”

Pei Xin: “……”

Of course he knew about Li Hao.

The man’s camp was less than ten miles away.

His information was naturally far more current than Gu Fangzhi’s.

So… there was no real emergency?

He just came here?

Left the capital unattended? Left the ministers to fend for themselves?

Didn’t even feed Snowball?

How could a man of Gu Fangzhi’s age still act so impulsively? So emotional?

It wasn’t as if Pei Xin couldn’t protect himself.

The whip twirled lazily once around his wrist.

Still, Gu Fangzhi’s arrival would be useful.

Just last night, Pei Xin and Qin Xuan had discussed a certain plan, and he’d thought, if Gu
Fangzhi were here, things would go much smoother.

And now, he was here.

Pei Xin said, “Since you’re here, stay for now. Rest first. We’ll discuss business later.”

He planned to visit the training grounds next, so he left soon after.

Before departing, he ordered an empty tent to be prepared for the two brothers and had food sent over.

Even after walking quite a distance away, Pei Xin still couldn’t shake his surprise.

…He still couldn’t figure it out.

How had Gu Fangzhi managed to appear out of nowhere like that? The shock had nearly made his heart stop.

Before he left, Gu Fangzhi had pressed a small box into his hand, saying it was a hurried gift since he hadn’t had time to prepare a proper birthday present.

As he walked, Pei Xin opened the lid, inside were a few milk candies.

He hated soft sweets the most, cloyingly sweet, sticky, and nauseatingly chewy.
Gu Fangzhi must’ve just taken some from his younger brother’s stash and passed them off as a gift.

Pei Xin stared at the candies as if facing an enemy.

Then, with grim resolve, he removed his gloves, picked up one piece, and tossed it into his mouth like a condemned man.

What was it Gu Fangzhi once said?

“Sweeter than shit, stickier than shit, and it even clings to your teeth when you chew.”

After a brief rest, Gu Fangzhi finally felt alive again.

To make better time on the road, he’d practically learned to ride a horse these past few days.
Thankfully, the thick winter clothing had spared him from the saddle sores he got last time.

The soldiers’ meals were simple, steamed buns and stew.

Gu Fangzhi wasn’t picky, eating heartily alongside his brother.

Gu Yunchuan tore a bun in half, split it into pieces, stuffed some vegetables in between, and took a bite.
He ate quietly but with a steady, rugged grace.

“Haven’t had food like this in years,” he said, then asked, “Want to take a walk later?”

After eating, Gu Fangzhi accompanied him for a stroll outside.

They were still some distance from the front lines, but all around them were elite troops, everywhere, soldiers were swinging their weapons, striking wooden posts with sharp precision.

Suddenly, a voice called from behind, “General Gu?”

The brothers turned to see a tall young man approaching.

He was tall and broad, with tanned skin, strong features, and faintly blue eyes that gave him a foreign look. A long spear rested in his hand.

He walked up and said, “I’m Lu He. General, do you still remember me?”

“You’re here now? Under whose command?” Yunchuan asked.

“And don’t call me General. Just my name is fine.”

Lu He nodded.

From their conversation, Gu Fangzhi gathered that Lu He had once served under Yunchuan and had been bullied for looking like a foreigner, until Yunchuan had stepped in to defend him.

Later, when Yunchuan returned to the capital, Lu He and his comrades came here, and through real combat experience and bravery, had done quite well.

“All thanks to your teaching, General!” Lu He said.

“You had the skill yourself.”
Gu Yunchuan took the spear from Lu He’s hand, weighed it, and twirled it a few times with his left hand, the air whistling as it cut through.

Gu Fangzhi couldn’t tell if that was good or bad form, but it looked very cool.
He clapped enthusiastically.

“Good! Very good! Amazing! When the wind stops and the rain clears, my big brother— unbeatable!”

He was trying to offer emotional support, but Yunchuan only turned red, lowering his gaze, looking like he wished the ground would swallow him up.

To change the subject, Yunchuan asked,

“Want to try?”

Gu Fangzhi reached out.

The spear was handed over.

The spear fell.

The spear smashed his foot.

Gu Fangzhi: “……”

This thing was that heavy??

He quickly reloaded.

This time, he politely declined.

“No, thank you. I don’t have the strength, can’t even hold a baby.”

Yunchuan: “……?”

After returning the spear to Lu He, the two brothers continued walking.

By sunset, the temperature dropped sharply.

The wind was bitter, slicing across their faces like open-handed slaps from a line of muscular men, and it multiplied.

First one slap, then two, then four, then sixteen, then two hundred fifty-six…

By the time Gu Fangzhi was practically wind-slapped into submission, he and Yunchuan headed back.

On the way, Gu Fangzhi hesitated before suddenly asking,

“Brother… do you want to return to the army?”

Gu Yunchuan grunted softly, then murmured, “…It’s not my choice.”

Some people are born to cherish life’s peace and stability; others are born for the battlefield, drawn to the clash of iron and blood, fueled by courage and loyalty.

Gu Fangzhi thought of himself as the former.

But Gu Yunchuan… he was clearly the latter.

It seemed Gu Yunchuan wasn’t ready to rest yet.

Gu Fangzhi gave his brother a small smile, already planning to ask Pei Xin later if that earlier suggestion, the one about letting his brother return to the battlefield, still stood.

Just as he was thinking about Pei Xin, a messenger came jogging up.
“Lord Gu, His Grace requests your presence.”

Normally, “His Grace” was how Ah-Qi and the others referred to Gu Yunchuan, so it took Gu Fangzhi a moment to realize that the soldier meant Pei Xin.

His Grace, huh.

ust a kid, really, oh, wait. Not a kid anymore. He’d just come of age.

He wondered absently, if he showed Pei Xin a spring palace picture now, would that trigger a bad ending?

【Congratulations, player, on unlocking the BE ending, “Teacher, Have Some Decency!”】

Gu Fangzhi: “…………”

He sheepishly reloaded.

Yunchuan placed a hand on his back and gave him a light push.

“Go on. Don’t keep him waiting.”

When Gu Fangzhi entered Pei Xin’s command tent, he found Qin Xuan already there.

Pei Xin and Qin Xuan were bent over a map spread across the table.

At the sound of movement, they both looked up.

Winter came early here in the north; it had already snowed several times.
Pei Xin knew Gu Fangzhi disliked the cold, and yes, the temperature was frigid, but even so, Gu Fangzhi’s outfit was ridiculous: layer after layer piled on top of each other until even his slender frame looked like a walking snowball.

Pei Xin said, “Teacher, come here.”

Gu Fangzhi stepped to the table, standing beside Pei Xin and Qin Xuan to study the map.

Qin Xuan pointed at several marked locations. “These?”

“Uncertain.”

Pei Xin’s gloved hand traced a few other spots. “But these places are all possible.”

Gu Fangzhi nodded. “Indeed.”

After a pause, Qin Xuan asked, “Are we really doing it this way?”

Pei Xin said, “There won’t be any accidents.”

Gu Fangzhi echoed, “Yes, none.”

Qin Xuan frowned. “But for the personnel… perhaps we should reconsider—”

Pei Xin interrupted, “No need. Proceed as originally planned.”

Gu Fangzhi nodded solemnly. “Yes, as planned.”

Qin Xuan: “It should take no more than two days. The risk is extremely high.”

Pei Xin: “Three.”

Gu Fangzhi: “Three sounds good.”

Pei Xin: “………………？”

Were they reading a script together?

Was Gu Fangzhi just… doing audience reactions now?

He didn’t even know what they were talking about, so what was he agreeing to so confidently?

Pei Xin’s temples throbbed; he pressed a finger to the spot between his brows.

Seeing both men looking at him in puzzlement, Gu Fangzhi flushed and reloaded.

This time, he stayed silent, arms crossed, wearing a deep and mysterious expression.

Pei Xin: “……”

His living dad was really getting too proud for his own good.

Patiently, he went through the same discussion again with Qin Xuan, word for word, before signaling Qin Xuan to explain the plan to Gu Fangzhi.

“It’s like this,” Qin Xuan said. “Our scouts report that the Cangsheng Sect has begun sending soldiers and supplies into Wucheng.

His Majesty intends to strike before they’re prepared, to investigate their military strength and grain reserves.”

Gu Fangzhi asked, “So the discussion just now was about how to investigate?”

“Yes,” Qin Xuan replied. “The day before yesterday, refugees entered Wucheng.

Yesterday, we even sent an old man there as a test, he got in safely.

So, His Majesty believes we can disguise our own men as refugees and infiltrate the city.
However, the risk is great, we must not be discovered.”

Gu Fangzhi pieced the clues together and suddenly understood.

“So you were deciding who would go? And how many?”

He asked, “Is there anything I can assist with?”

Pei Xin replied calmly, “Yes, because you’re coming with me.”

Gu Fangzhi: “……”

Ah… that moment when you raise your hand in class just to look engaged, and the teacher actually calls on you.

Still, it didn’t sound that hard.

It just needed caution, finesse, luck—

—or a quicksave system.

For ordinary people, it might’ve been an impossible mission.

But for him?

Well, with him, the team came with built-in save points.

Guaranteed success.